By Randy Moore
I never thought much of the hoopla associated with 2012 and the Mayan calendar. I’m too much of a historian to take predictions about the end of time seriously. They have been used repeatedly by witch doctors and other tribal leaders to scare and control people. In modern times, end-of-time predictions have also helped sell books, tapes, seminars, and even movie tickets. All of the predictions about when or how the world will end are worth ignoring unless you find the topic intellectually stimulating.
The world’s ending will likely relate to the inevitable demise of our sun. That’s expected in less than five billion years. A large asteroid could speed up the timetable, but that prospect is unlikely with our ability to track asteroids and influence their trajectory in a worst-case scenario. It’s a safe bet that humans will have plenty of centuries to populate other planets in our solar system and perhaps beyond.
Even with the certainty of another year, every human alive is marching ever closer to their personal ending as biological critters. Each of us has just so many years, months, weeks, and days until our final breath. Most of us have about 30,000 days before our bulb burns out. If we are fortunate we are making progress in learning how to spend most of our time being grateful for life and the pleasures of sharing our journey with others.
I used to obsess about what happens after our bodies die, which led me on some interesting explorations of religion, philosophy and psychology.
I’ve had flings and deeper romances with Christianity, Buddhism, Spirituality, Atheism, and variations of other belief systems, but none of these dance partners has offered any certainly other than faith about faith.
Who could argue against the allure of eternal life, especially in the face of the alternative scenario of burning forever? The extremes of eternal bliss and eternal damnation are ancient ideas sparked by hope and fear. Perhaps the highest potential of our human nature is to reach a place where we are no longer afraid of death or the mysteries surrounding life.
No one alive has certainty about the afterlife. Each of us has now and that’s it, but the moment at hand is more than enough to build a meaningful life.
Is 2013 the dawn of a golden age? I believe it is, but no more than any other year in history. That doesn’t mean it’s not important because everyday is a new beginning to make conscious choices in how we experience ourselves and other people.
Here is what the golden age of 2013 means to me. It will be another year to help other people I care about and to learn and grow on many levels. I predict some extraordinary and frustrating days ahead over the next 12 months. People I know will inspire me to tears and other good people will remind me about my limitations and blind spots.
One of my personal milestones will be my 60th anniversary of life next November. That means more bad hair days and the adventures of living in a fast culture that often values image over substance and beauty over wisdom. I’ll continue to ignore most of the social trends geared to spark consumerism. It will be another year I don’t sign up for Facebook or Twitter. I realize some of you would like to know what I had for lunch today (tuna salad sandwich), but I’m happy to be living a mostly invisible life.
One of my biggest stresses is dealing with a beloved puppy that will be turning 14 this year. I’ve never been so close to a pet and I know many of you can relate. I will continue nurturing Diego everyday with trips to the park, doggie treats, and plenty of hugs.
Another stress that will be part of 2013 is witnessing a political system that’s mostly about serving politicians and their anxious benefactors. I would be happy to see most of these folks resign to make room for more modest people who care about the greater good. I know that’s not realistic so how about term limits, campaign finance reform, and new political parties instead. Of course I’m a dreamer, but dreams are part of every golden age.
My greatest expectation is to continue discovering my aptitudes and potential. I enjoy working with my son Bryan everyday helping our clients achieve their marketing goals. We recently managed the inaugural Sarasota Bay Water Festival and it was a terrific experience to stand up for the importance of Sarasota Bay to our environment and economy. We have other fun and meaningful events on the drawing board for 2013 and beyond.
Another highlight of 2013 will be our next vacation to Europe. Our travel itinerary includes Paris, Lyon, Avignon, Marseilles, Nice, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Madrid, and Segovia. This means we will probably end up in Greece or New Zealand based on our history. For example, we ended up in Switzerland and Italy for three weeks in 2010 after making detailed plans for a trip to Spain. What a perfect metaphor for life; you make personal plans and then you end up riding a much bigger wave wherever it takes you.
Best wishes to you and your loved ones for the most fulfilling year ever in 2013.
Randy owns Triple 3 Marketing. He’s a long term advocate for positive change, having owned community magazines since 1999. Randy sold Positive Change Media in April 2009 and took a year off before launching Triple 3 Marketing. In addition to helping business owners, he also provides private coaching. Randy has a masters degree in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he studied persuasion and attitude change. Contact Randy at randy@triple3marketing.com.