I LIKE THE VIEW
Tuesday Jan. 31, 2012
2012 . . . one month in, how are you doing?
You don’t need to tell me, with 1/12th of 2012 in the spent/went column, what of the world’s condition is improved because of how you spent January?
But, pose this one: what is better about your life for those efforts?
I sit here, at month’s end – everybody’s dread, and trying to make it a more joyous invigorating process and analysis.
End of the month, for most of us is when rents and mortgage payments come due. Nearly every bill we get or charge we incur for utilities, credit cards, car payments, web hosting, phone bills . . all, by the month.
Today, end of month one, what have you done Mark, what have you accomplished?
Surely you have something to show for this one, don’t you; you’ve invested 1/12th of this year, moved one month further down the path of life, so something ought to be different, ought it not?
Some is math.
Most is commitment to change.
I need both.
I committed to spend less, earn more, eat less, play more, TV less, read more and sleep more in January. Those were among my goals. I’ve met them.
In February, compared to January, the same will be true.
I can’t change everything overnight, but if I don’t measure what I’m trying to change, will it ever change? Months are not necessary to analysis. We can measure performance any time, any day – or every day, but lifestyle seems to evolve around this construct of the month.
An invigorating month on many fronts – developed some new business, re-started some languishing opportunities and reminded myself that a back-to-basics approach like I talk about in the classroom is good for this old-fart too.
Though I moved here in the last half of December, I’ve been here ‘officially’ one month. One month spent/invested on new strategies – fresh initiatives and, in some cases, simply picking up the dropped ball on relationships I’ve ignored or let wither.
I’ve spent more time this month washing dishes (this place, to my surprised delight, doesn’t have one) and contacting old clients (side benefit of pouring through old files as part of an accounting reconstruction) than I have in many years. My tolerance for hot water is improving as is my enjoyment from plowing old ground and unearthing interesting opportunities.
The most interesting thing I’ve done this month – and will continue, is the purge.
I’ve not binged, in terms of excess, but looking around home and office – especially after schlepping it all across the city in December – demonstrated to me that I was only giving lip-service to downsizing my life, not genuinely reducing my footprint . . .
One month in, I remain committed to getting rid of or throwing-out something every day. I doubt I’ll get near zero, ever, but I know there will be less of me to move next time.
How we account for time – or measure history, is not so much in minutes or hours, or how we measure, in months or years but whether, in looking back, if we like the view.
Mark Kolke
306,212
column written/ published from Calgary: morning walk: 1 C/ 34 F, light overcast, light breeze, light walk in the light, Gusta distracted . . . or maybe it was me trying to hustle her along because I have so much to do – and want to get my day in high gear
Comments Received:
FIRE HYDRANT
My advice: don't take a question as criticism - it may very well have been interest (expressed in 'that' tone of voice). Your persistence and perseverance are a marvelous gift to your - and our - writer's soul. Keep going with this remarkable writing and thinking practice - a daily writing habit is essential for a writer's health. I do something similar (much shorter) with my "daily happinesses" and am always touched at the number of people my small images touch. Speaking of which, sorry I've been out of touch, but whether I skim, ignore, or devour your musings, the fact that you write them and send them and I receive them has become important to me, WE, Alford, MA
The existence of those who feel it is there job to criticize on everything must be an uninteresting one, PL, Calgary, AB
Greetings Mark, Well I've been checking out your musings, poetry and such and I have enjoyed myself. Thank you for your insights as well, JAC, Altamont, NY
LENGTH OR DEPTH
I am totally weeping, you have looked inside me and put into words exactly what I am feeling . Your Like China poem drew me in and then this………. Not everyone knows they are loved, or feels they are loved – but the person doing the loving - that person, is never mistaken. They might find their loving not returned - but that is no reason for feeling naught, or for feeling anything other than very good. Worse, than not being loved, is having no one to give your love to. I believe we should not give it carelessly, but when we do, we should give it fearlessly and foolishly – deeply, wholly, and holy-cow-man all the way deeply, off the cliff, over the top, without reservation. I am in love with a married man and it has been an amazing journey , it is time for me to move on , it is going to be painful for us both. I hope to experience such love again , and I hope to have someone to love like that again. Whoever let ‘Matt’ go was a fool …to write what you did, you had to have felt it as well. To ‘feel’ is better than not feeling anything but sometimes I wonder. Take care Mark, CW, Martensville, SK
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