Just Plain Bill

Taking a hiatus

After five years, I’m taking a hiatus from my commitment to write at least one blog a week. It’s both easy and hard to stop something I began in 2013, when I started riffing about a variety of things, mostly personal, but reflections on occurrences in my life and current events, with a smattering of opinions.

The audience for my blog was undetermined, originally intended for my family and primarily for an audience of one – me – to see if I could do it.

One aspect of my character I’ve noticed over the years is actively proposing something and giving it a go with a burst of energy, only to see too many endeavors slow down to a “slow drip”, and stop!

I’ve written many things related to the teachings by a variety of experts, from social scientists to academics, including events and personalities in the news, leaning towards liberal tendencies. One theory I’ve included in my training sessions on creativity is one I remember from a counter-culture professor from Harvard, Timothy Leary, saying "Turn on, tune in, drop out" over 50 years ago.

I remember Leary also saying this little-known statement about creativity (unfortunately, I don’t always remember the exact source of this and other sayings, a lacking I have as a scholar):

·     Everyone is creative in some way, either as translators – those who change things, looking at things that exist in new ways, or transmitters - those who communicate or carry out something…

I’ve heard friends mention that I come up with a wealth of ideas, but I don’t always carry them out to fruition, at times depending on others to complete the ideas, or letting them become dormant, sitting in my outbox.

But now that I have followed through on my commitment to write a blog entry weekly (and for five full years), what’s next?

Any ideas for me?

Just Plain Bill

Age – is it only a number?

It’s been said that age is just a number - or is it? While growing up, I remember having a problem waiting until I achieved that “special” birthday: Ten was special, then 13 when I became a teenager, on to 16 when I could legally drive, then on to 21, 30, 40 and now, that special birthday coming soon when I’ll become an octogenarian.

Octogenarian.

I don’t know many of them, and now I’m going to be one!

Eighty – an age that sounds so old, with a plethora of limits and disabilities. I’m so fortunate to be blessed by having lived all these “ages,” looking back on experiences, accomplishments, and regrets.

I also look back on all the people who have contributed to what I’ve become. Some lessons were easy and some not so easy. To be completely candid, this “old dog” is still learning “new tricks.” (I was certain that by the time I hit 80, there’d be nothing left to learn the hard way.)

I’ve always been good at remembering people, and the experiences we’ve shared, and for that I am forever grateful.

In my early years of teaching/training, I remember suggesting we tend to look at the time we have left to “do” something as thinking of someone you know that’s twice your age: you’re 25 and you know many people who are 50 – so you have “plenty of time.” Then on to 30, still knowing many folks who are 60. But when you’re 40, just a few are 80. And here I am.

There aren’t any 160 year olds, so, having been a “late bloomer”, I better get to doing what I’ve wanted to do.

Time’s a wasting!

Just Plain Bill

Five years ago…

Five years ago, I made a commitment to write one blog a week, to post on Saturdays, at 11:00 AM. As we approach the fifth anniversary, I’m submitting three extra posts to make up for those I missed due to circumstances beyond my control.

Writing the 250 plus posts, on subjects both personal as well as based on the news at hand, while providing an informal record of many life events, continues to be a challenging experience. My audience was focused on myself and a few others, as I didn’t include links for expanded distribution - which I may reconsider going forward.

I’m blessed by having a dear friend, Allyn Geer, along as both editor and counsel, which continues to be a treasured experience.

So here’s to another five years, and as they say on the airlines, “… fasten your seat belts, raise and lock your tray tables in their upright positions, stow your carry-ons under the seat in front of you, and prepare for the journey…”

Just Plain Bill.