Month: January 2018

Change Is A Good Thing

“Strange fascinations fascinate me
Ah, changes are takin’
The pace I’m goin’ through.”

David Bowie from “Changes”

So, I announced my retirement from the Royal Canadian Navy. I am changing my life, once again. I am transitioning to a civilian life but still working for the RCN. I couldn’t be happier. Change is merely a transition.

I have also transitioned as an author. It’s a subtle thing but the more you write the better you get and at points you can look back and wonder how you managed to get to the next plateau. I read posts from new authors, each struggling to find their way, and remember with a shudder going through those same pains and tribulations. I’m on a new plateau at the moment and it’s a wonderful view.

Then I look up and see all the other plateaus above me. It’s such a climb. But it’s worth it. The view gets better.

Musing: I’m not sure how many people see an author and think “that person is an artist.” Do they instead only think of musicians, painters, and sculptors as artists? Well, I think of myself as an artist. I always have, whether I was writing software or writing novels. Or even playing on my piano.

Writing is such a joy and expression of creativity. I marvel at the wonder of putting words together that illicit a stirring of emotion. You can write a sentence a hundred ways, much like you can paint a flower a hundred ways. It is writing that sentence until it is just right that brings joy to a writer. At least for me. Words are power. This civilisation of ours is a thin veneer of laws and beliefs that protect us from the underlying chaos. Some words make us stronger while others try to tear us down. Choose your words carefully. Try and make the world a better place.

“Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
There’s gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time.”

David Bowie from “Changes”.

Happy New Year

Today is the first day of 2018. Please take a moment to reflect back on what a year 2017 was. I think we can all agree it was one for the history books. I honestly have feelings of trepidation looking forward to 2018. The world is unstable and we have people of horrible character in charge seemingly oblivious to the negative rhetoric they foster. Sabre rattling is non-stop and we have rulers who openly embrace methods that most well-educated people and people who value tolerance shun. We all feel so helpless watching these machinations. These days anger rules reason and hatred rules compassion.

Enough of that. We should be more hopeful.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Yule. It’s a time for family and friends and reflection. ‘Mother’s Night’ has a long tradition in Anglo-Saxon lore and was borrowed by Christianity for Christmas. It is a midwinter night where we gather to feast and celebrate. The sun will hang a little longer in the sky and with it comes hope.

Be kind to this home of ours floating in space. Weather patterns are getting worse and worse. Gaea warns us. Stay safe and keep reading. Reading brings knowledge. Scientific method validates knowledge and lifts us out of ignorance. Fight those who would strip knowledge and science. And as always: embrace life.

Happy New Year!

Ciao

donald

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