MUSINGS and other writing by Mark Kolke

. . . . . . there is no edge to openness

TODAY'S MUSINGS

FEEDBACK / COMMENTS

MARK SPEAKS

ARCHIVED COLUMNS

ARCHIVE SPRING 2023

ARCHIVE WINTER 2022-23

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2022

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2022

ARCHIVE SPRING 2022

ARCHIVE WINTER 2021-22

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2021

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2021

ARCHIVE SPRING 2021

ARCHIVE WINTER 2020-21

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2020

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2020

ARCHIVE SPRING 2020

ARCHIVE WINTER 2019-20

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2019

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2019

ARCHIVE SPRING 2019

ARCHIVE WINTER 2018-19

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2018

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2018

ARCHIVE SPRING 2018

ARCHIVE WINTER 2017-18

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2017

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2017

ARCHIVE SPRING 2017

ARCHIVE WINTER 2016/17

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2016

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2016

ARCHIVE SPRING 2016

ARCHIVE WINTER 2015/16

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2015

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2015

ARCHIVE SPRING 2015

ARCHIVE WINTER 2014/15

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2014

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2014

ARCHIVE SPRING 2014

ARCHIVE WINTER 2013/14

CONTACT

MY REAL ESTATE LIFE

WHY I WRITE MUSINGS

SHORT STORY PROJECT

POETRY PROJECT

MARK'S SPEAKING TIPS

SELECTED OTHER WORK

     
 
NEVER THE CLICHÉ
March 19, 2022
 
Every morning, for 19 years*, this column has come out of me – my computer spread/shared thoughts and frustrations. I’ve told some and worked on my writing craft. It’s valuable, fun, and much cheaper than therapy …
 
Today is the last day of that 19th year, and tomorrow starts another spring, another year, of spilling onto this page every day.
 
For 6,940 consecutive days, a few words (and some days, too many) tossed against the wall – some stick, some viewpoints resonate within my peer group.
 
I’ve often wondered, and occasionally I’m asked, why I keep doing this.
 
I don’t want to stop.
 
That’s the simple answer. I know I could. But if I did, it would be just another thing in life I started but didn’t continue.
 
I’ll stop when I run out of words or blank pages.
 
Likely not before that.
 
Some people have asked me why I keep doing this. Of many answers I give, the one I enjoy most is when I ask, “So tell me, how do I stop?”
 
This is not work.
 
Neither is it play.
 
It is easy and hard, almost always both; it is light and heavy, almost always both; and it is pain and joy, almost always both. Someone commented to me recently that I don’t write about one consistent thing – which to most observers would be true and possibly off-putting for someone who wants to tune in every day for a dose of one specific thing. But it never is. It would be like saying I am one particular thing, the same every day – and I could not abide that.
 
What hits these pages cannot be rendered to a single cliché, but being real, standing in your own skin and owning it, is always best.
 
It’s the last day of winter today. Tomorrow is the start-gun on a new season, as good as any reason, to start another year of writing my life down on a page, not to be some threadbare cliché, but to be me.
*March 19, 2003 – the day the United States coalition forces invaded Iraq
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reader feedback:
 
FOLLOW UP MATTERS
Speaking of Follow Up.  We were going to arrange for a face to face over breakfast, lunch or coffee.  What day next week works for you? I'm good except Tuesday morning, SC, Chestermere, AB
Hi Mark, Good post this morning – it reminded me to follow-up! J Please send me the link for next week’s meeting and I’ll do my best to be there. Thanks so much, LG, Calgary, AB
No doubt you have seen this several times, but always a refreshing reminder of the things that matter and in line what you espouse in your musings. You’ll have 28 years longer than Charlie to live his follow the messages he wrote – which reflect your ingrained beliefs:
 
Charlie Chaplin lived 88 years.
He left us 4 statements:
(1) Nothing is forever in this world, not even our problems.
(2) I love walking in the rain because no one can see my tears.
(3) The most lost day in life is the day we don't laugh.
(4) Six best doctors in the world...:
  1. The sun,
  2. Rest,
  3. Exercise,
  4. Diet,
  5. Self-respect
  6. Friends.
Stick to them at all stages of your life and enjoy a healthy life...
Life is just a journey! Therefore, live today!
Tomorrow may not be.
 
… RT, White Rock, BC
 
 
Some recent talks: Mark Speaks

 


 
 

Link to all my contact coordinates + links

Comments are always welcome - please contribute to the discussion.  

Reply to: kolke@markkolke.com

Copyright - all rights reserved - Mark Kolke, © 2003-2023 - MaxComm Communications

 - this site is updated daily - last update - 2023 / March 14