Almost twenty years ago I received a laminated copy of Bill Waterson’s last edition of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. It was given to me by a man who was retiring and who, unbeknown to him, was a mentor to me. For those of you who may not be familiar with a comic strip that ended twenty years ago, Calvin and Hobbes was about a six year old boy (Calvin) and his stuffed pet tiger (Hobbes). The last edition was Mr. Waterson saying good-bye to his readers after 10 years and 3,150 installments. It was created on December 31, 1995. Calvin and Hobbes were outdoors in brand new snow with Calvin’s sled. You can pull up the link for the actual comic, but the dialogue went like this…..
Calvin – “Wow, it really snowed last night! Isn’t it wonderful?”
Hobbes – “Everything familiar has disappeared! The world looks brand-new!”
Calvin – “A new year, a fresh clean start!”
Hobbes – “It’s like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on!”
Calvin – “A day full of possibilities!”
Calvin – “It’s a magical world, Hobbes ol’ buddy…Let’s go exploring!”
As they head down the hill riding tandem on Calvin’s sled, I truly believe Mr. Waterson captured the essence of what a new year feels like. A clean slate, a fresh start, new opportunities and adventures. A new year does that automatically – I guess. But, at the same time, we don’t have to wait for a new year to feel this way.
Remember the quote that became so popular many years ago? “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” It was repeated so often it actually became cliché. Nevertheless, it’s still true. Each day the prospects to make a difference stand before us. We have the opportunity to take calculated risks, dare to be different, reach out to old friends, and connect with new people, places and things. We might educate ourselves to learn new skills. Or we may chose to get out of our comfort zones and not be afraid to fail. The possibilities truly are endless.
Whether it’s the beginning of a new year or the start of a new day, the possibilities are out there. What is the key to unlock the possibilities? What is the one constant remaining?
It’s up to you to do the exploring.
Calvin was right – it is a magical world. But I believe it is up to you to make the magic happen.
I doubt my retiring mentor had any idea I would be referring to his gift 19 years later, in my Blog. I want him to know that I treasure the sentiment and the lesson it continues to teach me. I’ve carried the laminated sheet with me in my backpack when I traveled or at my desk at work. It now sits in a prominent location at home. On the back of the page he wrote three words that have also stuck with me – “Make good tracks.” I consider those three words a request and a mantra worth living.
I request the same to you for each day of 2015…..Make Good Tracks!