The Quarter Poles
Life is replete with reflections. Little sign posts similar to quarter poles on a thoroughbred track that mark our progress between events as we travel through our individual journeys. Just as we have our own paths through life we have individual sign posts. Birthdays and anniversaries which mark specific, the significant, events in our lives. We remember when and are continually amazed at the revelation that so much time has passed since the event. Collectively, however, we share some quarter poles as they mark events in the public domain. For instance, I am continually amazed we are now more than twenty years into the 21 Century at this point – and will be diving deeper in a little more than a week. So much for the Y2K scare and society crumbling![1] One of the many shared quarter poles, of course, is the calendar year. A time where we look back individually and collectively on the preceding year with news programs and media specials reflecting on what has been, and speculate on what might be. For me, personally, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the new chapter.
For me, life over the past couple of years has been a period of adjustment to a new normal. (One that had nothing to do with the pandemic.) If 2022 was about change then 2023 was about discovery. What then about 2024? Perhaps currents? No one really knows where the trends of life are taking any of us. There are several forces worldwide in competition for global dominance. There is truly no way to ascertain how any of it will pan out – it can only be the subject of analysis by academics when we reach the next quarter pole. For now the urgency for us is the same urgency we’ve always had – to value the time we have. To value our friends and family. Those that are close to us. These are the same priorities we should always have. There are some that say 2023 was a tumultuous year, and in many ways it was, but no more so than 2020, 2001, 1963, or 1939. There are constantly tragedies and incredible triumphs. Essentially, the pinwheel of life. Life cannot be replete with reflections without events, but those reflections should always serve as reminders just how important our relationships are.
No matter what you are doing this holiday season, and what ever holiday you celebrate, I ask that you please keep that in mind. Value your relationships – good, bad, or indifferent. Spend quality time and respect them as we all reach the final pole of 2023 because it is important to keep in mind while some of us have more of these reflection points, these quarter poles, ahead of us, some will not, and it will make these moments all the more poignant.I wish a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, and it is my sincerest wish that you and those you hold dear a positive 2024.
We have no need to fear AI or automation or technology destroying civilized society. As humans we seem to be capable of doing that without assistance.