It doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as easily as it might if the words were rearranged but that’s because it is unfamiliar and yes, it is new.
Photo credit to Unnar Ýmir Björnsson
Many people have shared that 2017 was a difficult year. In fact, it began in November of 2016 and for me, it was beyond personal or political loss. The world said goodbye to two of my favorite male musicians; Leonard Cohen and Tom Petty. I savor the memory of live performances with each and feel sad that their playlists are now complete.
But frankly, 2018 has begun in a wonderful fashion. I’m enjoying old friends and new challenges and a calendar that holds a lot of promise. Last week, after reading an interview with one my mentors Aldo Cibic, I discovered a new paradigm. In an article within architectural digest, Cibic was asked about the Met Breuer’s 2017 Sottsass exhibit and if he had visited it. Ettore Sottsass was cofounder with Cibic of the Memphis Group in the 1980s. Their work continues to inspire design to this day.
Cibic’s answer? “No, I didn’t go. I didn’t want to go… Now it’s easy for everyone to celebrate the past. For me, it was more interesting that I was somewhere else investing in something for the future.” Cibic shared that “the teaching of Sottsass was to look ahead, to be compassionate, to be understanding and empathetic to what people were feeling.” So instead of visiting the past, he is focused on the future – where we are going instead of where we have been.
This resonates with me. Are we spending too much energy trying to recreate a past when we should be pushing boldly into a new, happy future?
I downloaded new music from Girlpool and Kendrick Lamar as recommended by Stinkweeds, my favorite local record store. More importantly, I subscribed to the Rap Outlet, a new youtube channel by Cxlvn, one of the finest curators of underrepresented musicians in North America. Sure Cohen and Petty are in the playlist of my heart but I’m moving into the new, the unfamiliar, and pushing into a future that is wide open. I intend to live it with compassion and understanding and empathy to what people are feeling.
So, say halleluja and in 2018, get into the great wide open.
Agrigirl's Blog 
AnnieRie
/ January 27, 2018Missed you! Glad to see you posting.
Tammy
/ January 27, 2018Thank you.. Glad that you have been there when I have not.
Naomi
/ January 27, 2018New, Happy Year to you too Tammy! Love your fresh outlook . . . cheers to playing in the great wide open! XO
Tammy
/ January 27, 2018Thank you and thank you for your friendship over the years.
rhinophile
/ January 28, 2018I really appreciate that you have drawn our attention to “where we are going instead of where we have been”. There can be a lovely symmetry between our connection to the past and our hopes and desires for the future. I like the way you have used your love of music as a way of illustrating this. (I actually checked out the Tom Petty song as I hadn’t heard that one, and enjoyed both the song and the film clip.)
Tammy
/ January 31, 2018Thanks for your visit. I think it’s easy to want to return to the known but really we won’t be able to so we need a bolder vision. Glad you listened to Petty. I saw him on his first tour.
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
/ January 31, 2018So wonderful to see you writing again! May 2018 hold all sorts of new dreams and wishes for you 🙂
Tammy
/ February 10, 2018And to you my friend. Thank you for stopping by.
I Wilkerson
/ February 3, 2018Nice to hear from you Tammy! I would love to have tried Hip Hop Dance classes in addition to my (old) ballet, but my bad hip is now keeping me out of the dance studio entirely. On to (new for me) swimming instead…
Tammy
/ February 10, 2018Love that you keep modifying it in order to stay active. Hope all is well.
hotlyspiced
/ May 13, 2018I’m glad your year got off to a great start. I hope it’s all still going really well xx
Tammy
/ June 25, 2018So nice to see you Charlie. Hope you are well.
pearlz
/ May 29, 2018Hope this year will be a splendid one Tammy! I am writing and working on my health!
Tammy
/ June 25, 2018Be healthy June!
pearlz
/ June 26, 2018Thanks Tammy, doing my best. Had a henna event with friends.
Pamela Brinker
/ June 23, 2018Great message, Tammy!
Tammy
/ June 25, 2018You’re so kind to read Pam! Thanks for the visit.