Sunday 12 September 2010

A Practical Guide to some of life's top things - A Digestive Special Issue (part 2 of 10)

(one my mum made earlier)

I got it!

What, the name of the film with Kevin SPacey?

No, that was American Beauty. No, I got the Pick the blackberries thing!

That was last week.

Yeah, I know, but you said it was Zen metaphor and so I’ve been thinking about it, in a Zenny kind of way.

No, I said it was sort of a Zen metaphor.

Yeah, whatever, I got it! If we get fixed on the climb too much, we might miss the journey?

You got it! Because…?

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing?

Er, yes, anyway are you ready for NUMBER TWO in the Bitsnbobs Practical Guide to the Top Ten Things to do in a Lifetime? (part one here) Some suggestions concerning things that we sometimes forget to do, but probably make it all worthwhile.

Number two because it’s the second one you wrote right, not because it’s in second place (which will be sorted out at the end)?

You’ve got it.

So what is it?

Create.

Create?

Yep.

Like in babies?

Could be, if you like – but remember, they will turn into teenagers. Could be something else – a home, a song, a poem, a film, a corner for thinking about Zen metaphors.

Anything?

Yep.

A cake?

Create! Not Make!

Though making cakes is good too. Here’s a recipe.

Yum – anything else?

Cakes?

No, anything else about “Create”?

Well, how about a quote?

Ok, who’s it from?

You know that German guy, artist, long time ago, I think he did a deal with the devil or something.

Hitler?

I can’t remember, anyway – he said this:

Concerning all acts of initiative
(and creation)

Ah!

There is one elementary truth.

Hey, didn’t that book you are reading at the moment say something about that feeling you get when you realize there is one elementary truth?

How do you know that?

I read over your shoulder.

Yes it did, it called it the Ionian Enchantment.

Do you think this German guy was having one of them?

Maybe.

So? Carry on.

Where were we?

Truth.

Let’s start afresh?

Ok.

Concerning all acts of initiative
(and creation)
There is one elementary truth.
The ignorance of which
Kills countless ideas
And splendid plans-
That the moment one definitely commits oneself
Then Providence moves too
All sorts of things occur to help one
That would never otherwise have occurred
Whatever you can do
Or dream you can, begin it,
Boldness has genius
Power and magic in it.
Begin it now!

9 comments:

Mary said...

Whew -- I'm dizzy. Talk about finding the universal in the personal and vice versa. From picking blackberries to bold creation -- what a ride!

Mx

ps -- koochie, koochie, koo - kute baby:-)

pps -- on my way to my quarterly meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America (Toronto Chapter) -- Jane's bold creative genius turned a simple dance, chance meeting or outing to pick strawberries into an exploration of how external constructs and constraints impact internal truth and fulfilment of desires.

popps said...

ps goo gooo goo
p I hope dizzy is good Mary - i like the idea.

Janet Bianchini said...

So true - "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it!" I have a similar quote right next to my desk and it keeps me on track.

An excellent choice for number 2 in your series of some of life's top things.

So, talking about the word "create", yesterday I made (yes, I know you said create not make, but anyway I'll carry on!) 10 jars of homemade tomato sauce, a jar of lovely peach jam, and today a fresh apple crumble from the tons of apples from our orchard. Plus fresh bread drizzled in our olive oil. This sort of creativity is very satisfying indeed and the idea deserves to be towards the top of any list.:)

PS Very cute picture - of you??

popps said...

Yum!
Janet - i have tasted your olive oil and i must say it is a creation.
And if one day i am lucky enough to taste your apple crumble i will be a happy bunny.
ps yep it's me.

Anne said...

Nice, but not Goethe: http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth12.htm
In "Faust" the Director says "enough of words, let me see some action!" ("Der Worte sind genug gewechselt, Lasst mich auch endlich Taten sehn!")
By far the best related Goethe-Faust quote is Act 1 Scene 3, where he takes apart Genesis' "Im Anfang war das Wort" (In the beginning was the Word) and breaks it down via "Sinn" (sense) and "Kraft" (power, spark, energy, lifeforce) to "Im Anfang war die Tat!" (In the beginning was the deed)

Anne said...

PS: The first two, "word and" "sense", are translations of the Greek "logos", but Goethe has Faust reinterpret them as "force/energy/power/strength" and "action/deed/act/ performance".

Anne said...

Found it:

It’s written here: ‘In the Beginning was the Word!’
Here I stick already! Who can help me? It’s absurd,
Impossible, for me to rate the word so highly
I must try to say it differently
If I’m truly inspired by the Spirit. I find
I’ve written here: ‘In the Beginning was the Mind’.
Let me consider that first sentence,
So my pen won’t run on in advance!
Is it Mind that works and creates what’s ours?
It should say: ‘In the beginning was the Power!’
Yet even while I write the words down,
I’m warned: I’m no closer with these I’ve found.
The Spirit helps me! I have it now, intact.
And firmly write: ‘In the Beginning was the Act!’

http://tkline.pgcc.net/PITBR/German/FaustIScenesItoIII.htm

popps said...

Thanks Anne - and now i am guilty of spreading false rumour.
In my defense the framed print that i keep among a pile in the corner attributed it thus.
i shall set out to clear up my part of the mess and from now on give Mr Murray his due.
By the way how many German Myths are there?

Anne said...

German myths - ah, big topic... starting with Wotan ... the all-controlling computer in Dr. Who ;-)