MUSINGS and other writing by Mark Kolke

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SO, BEGIN ALREADY …
Saturday, January 1, 2022
 
 
I recall when most everyone did not have two clues to rub together …
 
In the early pandemic days, optimists predicted it would be short-lived.
 
Pessimists were saying. ‘by 3rd qtr. 2021 things will be back to normal, and the economy will take off like a rocket’, and I remember that well too because it was repeated a year ago at ‘the industry conference of the year’ I attended – and we all trust those prognostications, right?
 
It’s hard today – to reconcile rocket-ship with lockdown – because however hopeful we are, we aren’t out of the woods yet.
 
I also recall from those early days when too many brilliant doctors’ views were brushed aside or shouted down by louder voices for estimating ‘by the end of 2022.’
 
That was disheartening – or perhaps a safe prediction. I’ve been wondering what it was like a century ago when the flu pandemic ripped the world a new one.
 
Were there lessons there?
 
Was it a roaring 20’s verdict or overblown hype of the ‘20s that precipitated the great depression?
 
Here we are again, the start of a new year, media rife with prognostications and ‘year in review’ pieces because there is otherwise little or no news to report.
 
We resort to predicting, resolving, and reviewing.
 
We do this with hopefulness.
 
Each year we say we plan for the worst and hope for the best, but there seems to be way too much evidence of overblown hopefulness and not enough planning for the worst.
 
And maybe it’s time to take those offices and people labelled ‘emergency planning’ and rename them: RESCUE & RECOVERY?
 
Not everyone needs a first responder with skills and equipment – but for the first time I recall, nearly everyone is being careful not to need a first responder attending to them.
 
Naysayers, anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists, bullies in search of a soapbox – all of them – are wasting our time and diverting our energy from what is essential.
 
Much like those warnings in aircraft, ‘in the event of an emergency, put your mask on first before attending to others.’
 
Take care of YOU first, then take care of everyone you care about …
 
This year will be full of celebrations and births, and deaths. It will be a year of conflicts and resolutions, a year of pains and sorrows for everyone on this planet, alongside joys and achievements.
 
We need not strive for perfection, but we can strive for better whatever we believe or discount.
 
That starts with taking care of ourselves first and then serving others. That is not all we should do, but where we should all begin.
 
So, begin already!
 
The facts and the virus will unfold, and we’ll react.
 
That’s not new, but what is new after two years of wretchedness is the optimism we feel. It does not eliminate our frustrations or disappointments but underscores our quintessential qualities; resilience and optimism.
 
Happy New Year, everyone.
 
All the talking heads and loud voices cannot shout down the little voices.
 
Your little voice, my little voice, the voices that speak to us quietly and privately – remind us how valuable life and love and purpose can be and how irrelevant clear voices are amidst that cacophony.
 
What matters most is what we feel, taste, dream and do.
 
 
Reader feedback:
 
IN PRAISE OF BETTER PLANNING
Happy New Year Mark!  As usual, Great words of Wisdom. When one can achieve those three measures within the focus of one’s health, most all else falls into perspective! Blessings, BE, Calgary, AB
 
Your plan seems to have borne sweet fruit. Happy 2022!, SB, Calgary, AB
 
 
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