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GREATER AND GREATER EXPECTATIONS
Friday, January 15, 2022 - daily column #6638
Most of my days begin with an affirmation – my visualization, for high expectancies, notwithstanding trolls, dreads, and self-second-guessing lurking under every bridge I cross, which serve to distract, upend, or in some other way impede my planned tasks, goals and achievements …
Some days, this drive nudges and inspires my cowering, shivering inner child in a way that feels equivalent to driving smooth blacktop in a fast car with new tires in a convertible with the top down – windy and wonderful. Wow.
But more potently and most often, this journey feels more like driving a jalopy in reverse gear over a corduroy road. Some days I slip into the ditch and watch traffic from there – because riding any self-imposed euphoric wave of high expectations is rarely straightforward, direct, or smooth.
And I believe we need to be reminded regularly of the stark differences between participation, winning/achieving risk/reward continuum (not to be conflated with whining or losing), and observation for any achievement we would call worthy to succeed. The fundamental element is not whether the project is worthy, but rather whether we are worthy.
The other difference is that observation by an objective party shows what I do, but they never know why. Seeing from the inside, I know why but cannot see myself objectively.
How do we get balance in this, see the world through our eyes and see ourselves as others see us – or that not the critical part? If what we are doing matters – to us, to someone else, or for the world, does it really matter how anyone sees it?
Yes, it does matter.
It matters how I see it.
It’s mid-month, lots of self-imposed deadlines over the next few days will exhaust me physically and mentally. However, I’m off to a measured start, an effective one in my mind, on the BHAG projects I’ve set out for the year. I’ve had some great laughs with friends about my least ambitious project on that list. I realize more than any other element of that brain-candy is that it’s going to be fun.
However, we’ve all begun this most mind-testing year of our lives unfolding in front of us; we are made of sturdy stuff, we’ve not yet tested our full capability.
If not now, when?
Reader feedback:
Many years ago a doctor spoke to our Rotary Club and made the comment that all foods both cooked at home or served in restaurants already contain all the salt our bodies require. His comment was that we could add years to our life by simply not adding any salt at the table. Since that day I virtually never have added salt to anything with the exceptions being popcorn and corn on the cob!! That might cost me a year; but it’s worth it!!, GB, Calgary, AB
Excellent column you re an NSTEPper! Shake the salt habit, DH, Calgary, AB
On a side note - frozen fruit and vegetables, without added salt, can often be more nutritious than their fresh counterparts as they are picked at the height of ripeness and then very quickly frozen, so they retain the nutrition. ;), CJ, Fort Saskatchewan, AB
And, you Mark, often speak directly to me - or, so it seems. I’ve always been a label-reader for one reason or another however I am also a history aficionado. How many wars were fought over access to salt? Yeah, it’s an anomaly but ‘salt of the earth’ has deep meaning . . . and not just of the dietary sense. These days those who may be referred to as salt of the earth are few and far between. Perhaps it’s too much stress and not enough salt? Only time will tell, SB, Calgary, AB
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