10 January 2010

quote: e.b. white

If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy; if the world were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I wake up each morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world. This makes it very hard to plan the day.

09 January 2010

tabula rasa

The phrase "tabula rasa" means "blank slate" in Latin. While I don't believe that a totally blank slate is possible in a human being - even a baby is born with inherent and inherited tendencies, talents and instinct - I do believe that it is possible to Begin Anew, whether literally, physically, and/or mentally/emotionally.

I was born, and still live, within the walls of the current empire. As a student of history, I realize both the advantages as well as the cost of this fact. Were I to be a citizen of another country, I might not have the blessing of being able to talk about "new beginnings". I might only be able to speak of survival, and struggle, or perhaps I wouldn't be able to speak at all.

But, here I am. Freely speaking for such a time as I am able: observing, living, sensing, feeling, remembering. Living.

Tablua Rasa. And so I Begin Again.

satellite photo of great britain under ice...



(photo courtesy of nasa)

03 January 2010

winter sunrise



(click on the photo to enlarge and improve the view)
(photo by signe)