“Does cuhhh-menz mean,” Thalia scans hundreds of names in the program, “an ehn-d — or a start?”
“Both.” Nia appreciates twinkling tree lights reflected on the window pane.
“We celebrate the big ones… with pomp and circumstance,” Calliope feels excitement for the days ahead, “… yet every new day… We commence. We are gifted an opportunity to build… on what came before.”
What we call the beginning is often the end.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.
~T.S. Eliot
A note from LoveLetterist:
Tears pricked the back of my eyelids as graduates filed in to the field house.
I've heard it said that there is no fiercer love than that of a mother.
In my personal experience, that feels true.
I am grateful to have influences that teach me that this fierce love is much more about letting go... than clinging to what once was.
I'm excited to watch the stories that unfold.
Reflecting on "commencement" and "beginnings" reminded me of Rilke “If the Angel deigns to come, it will be because you have convinced her, not by your tears, but by your humble resolve to be always beginning: to be a beginner.”
-Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Adding my Jewish spiritual tradition Rosh Hashanah to the common calendar allows me two New Year's of beginnings. I've gazillions of quotes on just the word "begin".
If that were not enough about beginnings my Jewish tradition also adds a daily prayer upon awakening "modeh ani" which gives thanks for restoring my soul. The soul has gone elsewhere during sleep. This latter practice beckons toward treating each moment as coming and receding, accepting and letting go. Lots of images for this. The comings and goings of waves on the shore come to mind.
In returning to Rilke "To all that is used-up, and to all the muffled and dumb creatures in the world's full reserve, the unsayable sums, joyfully add yourself, ......
Rainer Maria Rilke