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LONG ODDS
Saturday Jan. 21, 2012
On weekend mornings I find I have time - perhaps my readers do too - to listen to some music. I choose pieces I like that connect, in some way, to my mood. I hope you enjoy these: in tribute to Etta James who died yesterday … At Last , I’d Rather Go Blind , Something’s Got A Hold On Me , All I Could Do Was Cry
Someone asked me recently, what do I stand for, or against?
I stand against ignorance, dishonesty and mean spirited-ness.
What do I stand for?
Too many pages would it take to answer that fully.
I stand for truth and its pursuit, reality and its realization, health and its enjoyment.
Laughter, I stand for that too.
But there is more to it, to me, to all of us – than simple words sets, platitudes, quotes and clever one-liners that distinguish, describe and define who we are, how we function – and how life becomes more vibrant, more worth living, more vital . . . every day.
I think attitude, far more than what we stand for, determines success and plays a huge role in our enjoyment of it. For example, when I enter a negotiation, go after a goal, ask a question of advance an idea, I always believe, without question that I will win. Otherwise, why bother? While it is true the odds of success will vary (ie: buying lottery tickets), I always believe I am going to win. When I don’t win, I keep trying. Using Einstein’s definition of insanity, I should probably stop buying lottery tickets – but every time I read about a winner, it becomes clear they actually bought a ticket.
Every runner who won a race, first had to enter that race – had to run. Everyone who reached the top rung of any ladder, had to start climbing at some point. Odds are often long, doors are often only open a tiny crack for a short time, but why not try to win if we desire the goal, the gold or the girl?
Where I go, what I do, how I get there is all choice, action and the building of momentum. It boggles my mind – always has, to imagine, with a thought – a clear one, a strong one, how much change we can be in the world of any one person, especially when that person is ourselves.
I’ve planned a day of work and domestic relaxation that will only be disturbed by arrival of a new fridge courtesy of my landlord who responded to my food ruination concerns.
What a treat.
I thought they were only going to fix the old one.
Mark Kolke
306,452
P.S.: All of us can create a great dish / project / idea. The question is whether we want to keep doing that, one at a time, or take that singular joy into mass production. It’s not so much a question of what we would gain, but more one of what we might lose. Breakfasted, on clam linguini leftovers – which makes me wonder for a few moments why I’m not running a restaurant. Many reasons, but not one of them stands in my way. Today I want other things. Tomorrow, who knows?
column written/ published from Calgary - morning walk: -16 C/2F, overcast, a few flakes of snow falling – an awesome morning for quiet reflection and, for Gusta, an inspection tour of every piece of yellow snow in the neighbourhood.
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