ISLE LIKE NO OTHER
Best of all worlds
There are two types of people. Those who look back and others who look ahead. Among those who look forward, there are those who make New Year’s resolutions and those who don’t. And among those who make such commitments are a few who look back in order to see the way ahead more clearly.
Clear as mud?
The French had a phrase for such backward looking forward jumpers. It’s “reculer pour mieux sauter” – roughly translated, this suggests that it is wise to take a few steps back before launching off into a run that will end with a quantum leap… hmm, why do I feel that something gets lost in the translation?
It’s barely a new year, and things are becoming complicated already – as the bishop said to the actress. So let’s take a step back, shall we?
Begin at the beginning, go on till you reach the end and then stop… as the actress implored his eminence.
Where was I?
Oh yes, that there are two types of people. This being the first edition of a new year, I’d like to consider those who look ahead – I suspect there will be plenty of time to look back (in hate, anger, whatever…) later, at those who look back or go backwards.
Many if not most islanders of my acquaintance like to look forward. That they rest on their laurels in order to do so is neither here nor there.
And if one were to pause for a backward looking moment – reculer etc. ( but I think I might lose you if I don’t sauter) – there is a host of reasons for doing so. Let us examine but a few of these in the few precious and yet all too brief moments that we enjoy (ahem) together on this page…
PLEASURE PRINCIPLE I think that the Greek philosopher Epicurus was a Sri Lankan, don’t you? He it was who coined that pithy phrase and maxim for the unmindful life… “Eat, drink and be merry – for tomorrow, we die!”
On second thoughts, not so much looking forward but looking around; and for whatever can be eaten, drunk or made merry with…
So was it also a lugubrious thinker from our blessed isle who – upon looking back – muttered under his breath: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!” and added for good measure: “There is nothing new under the sun…”?
Hang on, lad! One can bally well hope… there is merit in staying positive – and COVID-19 negative – all through 2021… and by the way, should we be calling it COVID-20 now that the worst of it seems to be done and dusted?
PROFIT MOTIVE My mind goes back to 2002. I was then in two minds about buying a dress shirt. So holding up two of the specimens that just about caught my fancy, I enquired from the solicitous tailoring assistant: “Which one of them is better?”
Summoning up a slick smile that would put P. T. Barnum to shame – and no doubt with an impresario’s eye on his sales commission – the sartorial lackey essayed: “Sir, both are better!”
Talk about a win-win solution, eh?
MAD, BAD AND MORE Then there are the types to drive us forward – for all progress depends on the unreasonable person, as Bertrand Russell once mused.
They include the motorists (technical term: morons) who overtake a long line of vehicles only to screech to a halt at the light while still on the wrong side of the white line; arrogant swine (rhymes with bankers) who still don’t wear a mask; and well… enough said, methinks.
At best, there are only two times to look back. One when it’s the start of a new year. Then again when it’s the end of a life, cycle or season.
On both these occasions, a modicum of nostalgia is not unwelcome. It is just that ever since we started looking forward, nostalgia isn’t the way it used to be.