40 thoughts on “This is the End – dVerse Open Link Week 126”
Freya, you are so right. Not only are there bogus, commercialized Christmas deadlines… there are also resolutions to be made (and broken), and the general rush rush of trying to cram everything into this year. Like there won’t be another one. And like it’s not 5774 on the Hebrew calendar… until next Rosh Hashanah! Happy Merry Chrismakwanukkah, and a Blessed Festevus!
Seriously, I’m so happy I chanced upon your link at dverse! Amy
Great Freya, I loved this and I so agree, for some reason that alludes me people seem to think Christmas is the end of time, as they flock to the shops, seem to buy massive amounts of food as if stocking up for the end of time when in reality the shops do open a few days after Christmas. So smile at the panic I see in people’s eyes as if they need so much stuff. Loved the poem.
Thank you so much. As you can probably tell, it was kind of work-inspired, although I am lucky that I work with reasonable people and clients! But there are always a few things that just ‘have’ to be done!
As Christmas approaches, I will quote an early Christian mystic (and a woman, no less) who was born on Christmas Eve and died on Christmas Eve Eve (the 23rd) “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well”
I find I’ve lost my taste for the whole thing. I enjoy giving people gifts, of course, but I do it all year ’round. If I see something I think someone will like, and I have the means, I pick it up and safe for an appropriate time to give to them.
In my recent bout with ze monsta, one of the revelations I had was that I have too much, I want too much, I have so many books, have access to so much TV, movies, etc.. that I would have to live ten lifetimes in order to enjoy it all — so why chase it? My goal is to be satisfied with less; to want less, and to enjoy PEOPLE more than things.
Then the Dilettante thought of something she hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” she thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
And what happened then…?
Well…in Who-ville they say
That the Dilettante’s small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute her heart didn’t feel quite so tight,
She whizzed with her load through the bright morning light
And she brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!
And she…
…SHE HERSELF…!
The Dilettante carved the roast beast!
Goodness me – your comment was longer than my poem! But what a wonderful reply – thank you. I feel that you and I are on a bit of a similar journey here about giving, about how people are more important than things, and how about having too much just becomes a terrible burden.
I loved, loved, loved your finishing ditty – 🙂
(By the way, thank you for recommending ‘Lullaby’ – damned scary so far!).
Chuckles! You’ve made it easy to face the new year with these light moments. That is true. Things come to a finality. a cut-off point where a re-thinking or reflection on what;s coming is in order. Nicely Freya!
I used to work in an environment with the pressure of the dreaded Fourth Quarter- and you are spot-on! It is all a huge con, a trap we sadly all too often fall into (or are forced into). Well said, indeed!
Great stuff, Freya. Too often we’re enslaved by stuff that could just as easily wait til tomorrow…or next year…If you want, check out “The To-Day” show by the Canadian jazz group The Merlin Factor. It captures a bit of that same “urgency”.
ha. i like your philosophy…its funny our sense of time…and the crush we put ourselves under to fit everything in…to do just one more thing…as if the world were going to end…smiles.
Fitting and timely reflection ~ I can feel the rush already of not buying yet the Christmas gifts, yikes ~ But I am taking my time, smiles ~ Have a good week ~
Lovely that moment in your poem where the satire took off from the grounded-ness of the beginning and then landed again with the guarantee in the end. All of the dates and deadlines are arbitraty–except maybe for the world of finance and profit. No prophecy there!
So very true that the world really does not wind down at the end of the year, but what we don’t complete this year there will be next year……! And it will be here before we know it, actually!
smiles… i’m always rather non-emotional about the change of the year (and sometimes even don’t stay awake to greet it…) but this end of year mood def. seeps through the pores at times…
How true Freya ~ and all those New Year Resolutions to go along with the madness that are very rarely kept. Chill people ~ relax all will be right in the end 🙂
Wonderful, Freya – a gentle exasperation, a reminder to live a life, not just a schedule. Leaving something for tomorrow is actually good for us. If you’ve got too much on your plate, just take smaller portions – one of my adages that I fail miserably at living up to, so your words are heartfelt to me. Thank you.
And Merry Christmas to you, and yours. Hoping it is kind to you.
Also, thank you for your support of my novice solo poetry, and our collaborative work as OneVoice Poetry – it’s always been very appreciated – your generosity. x.Vivienne.xxxxxx
Thank you, Vivienne. It seems to happen every year, and the technology we are bombarded with at work and home that is supposed to make us more efficient – argh!
I too am not that good at taking my own advice – that inner critic has a nasty, sharp tongue and no way would I speak to anyone else the way my little voice talks to me…
Have a lovely Christmas, be well, rest easy and enjoy. As for support – we all have something to offer, nobody is too learned to learn, if you see what I mean 🙂
Thank you for your thanks – it brought a smile to my face! 😀
I don’t stay up for the change of one year to the next. I try to instill gratitude to others in whatever I choose to give. And, I am definitely appreciative of whatever I might receive.
Freya Writes... 
Freya, you are so right. Not only are there bogus, commercialized Christmas deadlines… there are also resolutions to be made (and broken), and the general rush rush of trying to cram everything into this year. Like there won’t be another one. And like it’s not 5774 on the Hebrew calendar… until next Rosh Hashanah! Happy Merry Chrismakwanukkah, and a Blessed Festevus!
Seriously, I’m so happy I chanced upon your link at dverse! Amy
Indeed, our Hebrew calendar is way ahead of the game! Thank you so much, Amy. Enjoy your festivities, whatever they may be!
Great Freya, I loved this and I so agree, for some reason that alludes me people seem to think Christmas is the end of time, as they flock to the shops, seem to buy massive amounts of food as if stocking up for the end of time when in reality the shops do open a few days after Christmas. So smile at the panic I see in people’s eyes as if they need so much stuff. Loved the poem.
Thank you so much. As you can probably tell, it was kind of work-inspired, although I am lucky that I work with reasonable people and clients! But there are always a few things that just ‘have’ to be done!
Yes, nobody ‘needs’ all that stuff… 🙂
As Christmas approaches, I will quote an early Christian mystic (and a woman, no less) who was born on Christmas Eve and died on Christmas Eve Eve (the 23rd) “All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well”
I find I’ve lost my taste for the whole thing. I enjoy giving people gifts, of course, but I do it all year ’round. If I see something I think someone will like, and I have the means, I pick it up and safe for an appropriate time to give to them.
In my recent bout with ze monsta, one of the revelations I had was that I have too much, I want too much, I have so many books, have access to so much TV, movies, etc.. that I would have to live ten lifetimes in order to enjoy it all — so why chase it? My goal is to be satisfied with less; to want less, and to enjoy PEOPLE more than things.
Then the Dilettante thought of something she hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” she thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
And what happened then…?
Well…in Who-ville they say
That the Dilettante’s small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute her heart didn’t feel quite so tight,
She whizzed with her load through the bright morning light
And she brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!
And she…
…SHE HERSELF…!
The Dilettante carved the roast beast!
Goodness me – your comment was longer than my poem! But what a wonderful reply – thank you. I feel that you and I are on a bit of a similar journey here about giving, about how people are more important than things, and how about having too much just becomes a terrible burden.
I loved, loved, loved your finishing ditty – 🙂
(By the way, thank you for recommending ‘Lullaby’ – damned scary so far!).
All will be well… well-penned. One must not forget having a good time, so as to rush through these last days of the year. 🙂
-HA
Indeed, we should not! Thank you…
Ah that is probably true.. but imagine ther is this invoice unpaitd that would make the world come to an end… but really that was awsome writing.
Ah yes, there is always an invoice….! Thank you 🙂
Chuckles! You’ve made it easy to face the new year with these light moments. That is true. Things come to a finality. a cut-off point where a re-thinking or reflection on what;s coming is in order. Nicely Freya!
Hank
Thank you, Hank – I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I used to work in an environment with the pressure of the dreaded Fourth Quarter- and you are spot-on! It is all a huge con, a trap we sadly all too often fall into (or are forced into). Well said, indeed!
Indeed. Reporting season never, ever ends!
Great stuff, Freya. Too often we’re enslaved by stuff that could just as easily wait til tomorrow…or next year…If you want, check out “The To-Day” show by the Canadian jazz group The Merlin Factor. It captures a bit of that same “urgency”.
Thank you, Bryan. I will check them out!
ha. i like your philosophy…its funny our sense of time…and the crush we put ourselves under to fit everything in…to do just one more thing…as if the world were going to end…smiles.
Thank you, Brian – I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Fitting and timely reflection ~ I can feel the rush already of not buying yet the Christmas gifts, yikes ~ But I am taking my time, smiles ~ Have a good week ~
You too! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I so agree–so amen to this one! Well said!
Thank you, Audrey!
Lovely that moment in your poem where the satire took off from the grounded-ness of the beginning and then landed again with the guarantee in the end. All of the dates and deadlines are arbitraty–except maybe for the world of finance and profit. No prophecy there!
Thank you so much, Susan. And I can tell you now – the world of finance has deadlines that can be moved too!
So very true that the world really does not wind down at the end of the year, but what we don’t complete this year there will be next year……! And it will be here before we know it, actually!
Yes, all that angst, for a few days. The other side is just the same as all the days before… Thank you for popping in!
So true!
One day, it might not be… we can always hope!
Ah yes – the Christmas rush – where the world will indeed come to an end should that last invoice be not sent or paid…
Fun read Freya!
Anna :o]
Thank you, Anna! Heaven forbid, eh?!
ugh… thanksgiving/xmas times… all the “HURRY HURRY THIS SALE ENDS BY___” where’s the enjoyment in that? end of the year always feels so rushed…
I somehow manage, by and large, to opt out of the seasonal frenzy with regards to shopping, etc. Work, is however, another matter!
smiles… i’m always rather non-emotional about the change of the year (and sometimes even don’t stay awake to greet it…) but this end of year mood def. seeps through the pores at times…
Yes, I’m not great at staying up until midnight either… but sometimes, it does get under my skin!
How true Freya ~ and all those New Year Resolutions to go along with the madness that are very rarely kept. Chill people ~ relax all will be right in the end 🙂
Yes, it certainly will 🙂
Wonderful, Freya – a gentle exasperation, a reminder to live a life, not just a schedule. Leaving something for tomorrow is actually good for us. If you’ve got too much on your plate, just take smaller portions – one of my adages that I fail miserably at living up to, so your words are heartfelt to me. Thank you.
And Merry Christmas to you, and yours. Hoping it is kind to you.
Also, thank you for your support of my novice solo poetry, and our collaborative work as OneVoice Poetry – it’s always been very appreciated – your generosity. x.Vivienne.xxxxxx
Thank you, Vivienne. It seems to happen every year, and the technology we are bombarded with at work and home that is supposed to make us more efficient – argh!
I too am not that good at taking my own advice – that inner critic has a nasty, sharp tongue and no way would I speak to anyone else the way my little voice talks to me…
Have a lovely Christmas, be well, rest easy and enjoy. As for support – we all have something to offer, nobody is too learned to learn, if you see what I mean 🙂
Thank you for your thanks – it brought a smile to my face! 😀
I don’t stay up for the change of one year to the next. I try to instill gratitude to others in whatever I choose to give. And, I am definitely appreciative of whatever I might receive.
Sounds like exactly the right way to treat gift-giving and receiving!