Sunday, November 18, 2012

Thou shalt vitalize thyself

You owe it to us all to get on with what you're good at.


W. H. Auden

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Hello Beth

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Well, I spent the past two weeks retelling the story of Brian On The Road. As some guessed it is somewhat autobiographical. It is based on my own hitch across the country in 1960, but also embellished in parts to make it a more interesting story. I hope those who read it enjoyed it as much as I did reading again and remembering some of the events that really happened. It was a sort of vacation for me.



The last chapter was printed yesterday, Saturday, so now I have to get back to work writing again.



Hurricane Sandy has come through here, followed by the nasty Nor'easter, leaving behind detritus and destruction, broken houses and broken hearts. When disasters happen on such a large scale repair takes much time and effort. In many cases it is impossible to go back, rebuild and regain what was lost. In such cases and in every case the action should be to go forward. Such a step will often reveal things lost that are better remained lost. Starting over does not mean going back. Loss does not mean defeat. Lack is an empty barrel waiting to be filled.



I remember talking with a young actress who had recently come to New York City to pursue her career. Among other things she said that she knew what her limitations were. I told her she had no limitations. She questioned me about that. I told her that the more she worked the better she would become and the further away she would get from those limitations, until her career was choices, not just opportunities.



The building blocks of life are not for rebuilding but for grasping and holding on to what a life is really all about and going forward with it, doing what we are good at, our specialties, without limitations.



Dana Bate - Vagabond Journeys

Never give up.

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dbdacoba@aol.com

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3 comments:

Beth said...

Hello Dana!

I know it's going to be a tough cleanup and hard rebuilding, but I know the people of the east coast are up to the challenge.

Sue said...

This was a good one. We all need to be reminded every once in a while, that we are good at something and might as well get at it

Jon said...

I thoroughly enjoyed Brian On the Road and plan to read it again.

As for limitations - I agree with your theory. The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves.