2008: Homescapes demolition debate plus the Big Sur Fire plus the Economy going down the drain

Most years I try to make a resolution or two, provided there’s something I’m resolved about, but this year I’m floundering.  On January 1st I did the Resolution Run through Carmel and usually an idea or two will come to mind, but the only thing that crossed my mind during the run was that I wanted to beat the fat guy ahead of me.  (That was probably the same thing crossing the minds of the people I was ahead of, too.)

The trouble with a bad economy is that it really shows how “the best laid plans” mean very little when some of the events in life are WAY beyond your control.

That’s actually where the running-around-the-world idea came in a few years ago.  It was something I figured I could do, no matter what, just by putting my mind to it.

But of course, that’s not true either.  My resolution last year was to stay healthy and finish up the 6th and 7th continents on my list.  Well, I stayed healthy, but the turmoil over whether or not the building my store is in would be torn down met with the fires in Big Sur and the implosion of the national economy and THOSE meant I had to put off the marathon trips for another year.

Note: I didn’t say THIS year as things are still so topsy-turvy that I can’t even safely make THAT resolution.  But it is still an aim/goal/wish.  We’ll see.

I just made my flight arrangements to go to NYC for the Winter Gift Show and even THAT is an aim/goal/wish.  Who’s to say if there will be any reason to stock the shelves for Spring 2009.  BUT if I don’t look to see what’s out there with at least a smidgen of optimism then I’m really setting the ball rolling to disaster.

There’s a quote floating around the internet, attributed in different forms to Seneca the Younger AND Oprah Winfrey:

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity .” - Seneca

“I feel tha t luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” - Oprah Winfrey

Same thing…actually, EXACTLY the same thing, though Seneca the Younger is WAY too dead to sue Oprah for plagarism.

So I’m doing everything I can think of to prepare for the opportunity to be lucky.

Hmm…

New Quote to rival Seneca/Oprah:

“Prepare for the opportunity to be lucky .”  Thompson Lange

Wow, I’m now a philosopher/Talk Show Host.  Maybe that’s my resolution.