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Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Beginning



Beginning
by Warren Hanson

This is the Beginning…
This is where it all will start,
on the Wings of some new Spirit with the Beat of some new Heart.

Every morning brings a Promise,
Every day has Gifts to give,
But Today…right now…This Minute….
is when I begin to Live.
And the air that I am breathing is the breeze of what could be,
as I stand here looking out on all the things that could be Me.
And the road that goes before me, leading somewhere out of sight,
is a brand new Opportunity for me to get it Right.
This is the Beginning. This is
Once Upon a Time….
There are dragons to be vanquished! There are castle walls to climb!
But this story isn’t written yet.
I’m only at page One.
The Adventure that’s awaiting me has only just Begun.
There are Mysteries and Treasurers.
There are daring deeds to do!
And if I speak the secret word, then all my Wishes will come true.
That Magic Word has powers that can make the heavens spin.
But it really is not Secret that the password is……”Begin!”
Oh the possibilities is this Beginning I have made!
I am Ready!…. but reluctant.
I am Excited!…. but afraid.

Afraid that starting something New leaves something Old behind.
Afraid that what I seek is something I may Never find.
Or, if I Find it, that it won’t be what I want at all.
That what I’ve left Behind is what I needed after all.

Beginning can be bittersweet, and hard to comprehend.
It can mean that some sweet, precious part of life is at an End.
And the Heart can feel so Hollow when it has to say Good-bye
that the thought of starting Over is too Hard to even try.

But when I reach the End, when all my days are nearly through,
I will Not want to look back on all the things I Didn’t do.
Nor regret the Joys and Passions of the me that Might have been,
if only I had found the simple Courage to Begin.
So…….This is the Beginning….
My Beginning……..My Rebirth.
I Awaken to the Wonder of what I am Really worth.
It is a Springtime for the Spirit, and it’s Giving me a Choice.
So I choose to Use this season as a reason to Rejoice!

I lift my voice in Sweet thanksgiving, singing Loud….and not alone.
A host of Harmonies accompanies my song of the unknown.
Loving Friends and willing Strangers, with their voices joining in,
create a chorus of Encouragement that begs me to Begin.

And the end?…..
It’s out there, Somewhere, farther than the heart can see.
And the Power that will take me there is Here, inside of me.
Though there is no way I can know how many trials I’ll endure,
nor the Joys that I may find,
there is One thing I know for sure…..

This is the Beginning…….

Warren Hanson is a gifted writer of books for children and adults alike. It's amazing how closely it aligns with what I am feeling today. I'm putting the final touches on packing, loading my car, and telling people goodbye. I’m heading north tomorrow morning. As the poem says, “I am Ready!…. but reluctant. I am Excited!…. but afraid.” It's so true that “Beginning can be bittersweet, and hard to comprehend.” It can be a bit overwhelming at times. This is a new adventure and a new job far away from home. I don't know what the future will hold, but I look forward to getting settled and getting to work. This is the Beginning…….

8 comments:

  1. I love the poem... it is my life as well. How many time that I started a new journey cannot be fathomed, yet each day is the start of a new journey. Good luck to you on your new adventure.

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  2. You brought me to tears with this one, Joe. I want this for you so much. Wishing you a great new beginning and all that is to follow...

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  3. I love that poem. That pretty sums up so many things in life. It is scary but exciting as well. I'm so happy for you and know that your great adventure awaits. Safe travels and keep the positive thinking going. :)

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  4. Be well, be safe, be happy. Love your roots, spread your wings, open your heart.

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  5. Just remember....full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes!!.....hit the metal to the pedal...let 'er rip....here we go...rev your engines....and they are off at the gate...she'll be commin' round the mountain...we will hit the dusty trail...happy trails to you....ride 'em cowboy....ride off into the sunset.....fill up the tank in Alabama - gas is much cheaper there than in Georgia!....don't look back...remember what happened to Lot's wife and don't look back.....a new venture awaits you, just as the pioneers had when they went west...

    Safe travels our friend, and a great life in Vermont....

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  6. This is a good poem, very appropriate for your situation, although it's highly unlikely "That what [you]’ve left Behind is what [ypu] needed after all."

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  7. May you, the uncloseted professor, have fair winds and favorable seas in your new journey. Please drive carefully in the next three days - it's a long journey to Vermont.
    The Academic
    P.S. Please also do change "About Me" before you go. You are now neither unemployed nor living in the South

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  8. Awesome poem. I'm so excited for you starting off this new adventure and more importantly putting the past behind you. A friend once told me to not just look ahead but to metaphorically turn a corner because then if you should ever glance back you won't be able to see what's behind you because it'll be out of your sights. Good advice to go and never look back. This poem reminded me of a song on the radio. Ever time I hear it I smile and think of you. Play it as you hit the gas and drive like hell out of the south.
    Love you. Ethan

    Here are the lyrics to Andy Grsmmer's

    "Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah)"

    I've been grinding so long, been trying this shit for years
    And I got nothing to show, just climbing this rope right here
    And if there's a man upstairs, he kept bringing me rain
    But I've been sending up prayers and something's changed

    I think I finally found my hallelujah
    I've been waiting for this moment all my life
    Now all my dreams are coming true, yeah
    I've been waiting for this moment

    Feels good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Hallelujah, let that bass line move ya, say hey
    And it's good to be alive right about now

    I was dead in the water, nobody wanted me
    I was old news, I went cold as cold could be
    But I kept throwing on coal tryna make that fire burn
    Sometimes you gotta get scars to get what you deserve
    I kept moving on and now I'm moving up
    Damn, I'm feeling blessed with all this love

    I think I finally found my hallelujah
    I've been waiting for this moment all my life
    Now all my dreams are coming true, yeah
    I've been waiting for this moment

    Feels good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Hallelujah, let that bass line move ya, say hey
    And it's good to be alive right about now

    I almost can-, cannot handle it
    I could get u-, could get used to this
    I almost can-, cannot handle it
    I could get u-, could get used to this

    I think I finally found my
    (Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
    Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah)

    Feels good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Hallelujah, let that bass line move ya, say hey
    And it's good to be alive right about now

    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now
    Good, good, good, good to be alive right about now

    ReplyDelete

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