El Condor Pasa, Flying, and New Years
It’s that time again. Time for resolutions, new beginnings. Hope, infinite possibilities. Time to fly.
I don’t know how to fly, and I am afraid of heights. Up and down, this is how I feel when approaching the possibility of growth and change. I can do it, I can’t do it. It’s too much, it’s not enough…enough to make my head spin. I don’t want to set myself up to fail, I mean, that is what New Years resolutions are anyway, right?
There are so many things I want to change in my life, where do I start? and now here’s where my evil eye, doubting Thomas, doomsayer chimes in and says “I will never succeed, I shouldn’t even try, it never works.” So the big question, why should I try?
On the other hand, I want to be a growing person, I want to do more, I want to be more, I want to accomplish more. This can’t possibly be it, I know there is more. Static is not an option, static is the equivalent to stuck. And I know what stuck means, it does NOT mean staying still, it means regressing, going backwards, that is not in my DNA.
I just heard El Condor Pasa by Simon and Garfinkel on Spotify and I had an epiphany, read the lyrics:
I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would
Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world it's saddest sound
Its saddest sound
I'd rather be a forest than a street
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would
Wow! brilliant! I want to fly like that sparrow, I want to be the master of my destiny, I want to be that hammer. I also want to be grounded and feel the earth beneath my feet. I think this is my answer, for today. I know life is dynamic and I will change and grow, and with that have new questions and challenges.
So here it is. A sparrow starts from somewhere, the ground, a tree, and it ascends, it takes time, it is a trip. The hammer uses fortitude and patience banging away. Sailing, that is a trip not a destination. I will take this new years and start my trip. I will not trip myself up and only think of the end results as the late great Harry Chapin says:” it’s got to be the going not the getting there that’s good.” I will start, and I will take it slowly and I will be in the moment and try to enjoy the flight.
So this is the takeaway. Have dreams and resolutions, work towards a goal, be excited. Do it one foot in front of the other and enjoy your trip because every step counts.