At dVerse Merril is hosting Prosery (up tp 144 words) using a line from the poem ‘A Map to The Next World.’ by Jo Harjo
The line is: “Crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end.”
“If you aren’t in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret.” Jim Carrey
Leaving Regret Regret, that yearning to grasp at something that slipped away, some long buried treasure like a skill or passion, a friendship, an opportunity, the "only if I'd" .... the voice that says you could have done that, you would have been set for life, if only you had or hadn't, whatever that may mean. So strange that we live in anxious competition for the perfect life and yet, ironically, risk missing life altogether. The past is a mixture of joy and sorrow, but either way it can hold us prisoner, while the future is always possible, yet for some, full of worry. Life for me is circular, and in a circular world crucial to finding the way is this: there is no beginning or end, life is not a race along linear lines of achievement or loss, there is no pennant only life itself. Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon All Rights Reserved ®
parallax 
Brave use of line!
Life is ” L I F E “!
I have to use, my brain and mind, to make it ‘ Beautiful’, ‘Happy’ and ‘Valuable’!
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Yes, the intentional way, letting go.
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Thank you, Paul! Lesson learned! 😉 xx Michael
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The school of life 😉
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Indeed! 🙂
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A great philosophy and use of the prompt! For sure the past can hold us prisoner, and even our worries about the future, if we let them we ‘risk missing out on life altogether.’
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Exactly so Ingrid, many thanks for that.
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Beautiful Writing❤️😊
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Thank you very much indeed. 🙂
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Chock full of inspiration, wisdom ~~ beautifully composed! Bravo.
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Thank you Helen 🙂
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life is not a race along linear lines of achievement or loss, there
is no pennant only life itself. What a wonderful statement!
People ask me if I have regrets. And no one seems to believe me when I say no. But then I explain. If I had regrets, it would mean I’d want to do something differently in my past. But if I did that, I would not be exactly where I am today with a husband of 51 years who is my best friend; children happily married with wonderful spouse and five grandchildren. I would not change a thing because it would have a ripple effect and things would be different. Does that make sense?
Excellent use of the prompt!
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Certainly does
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It makes absolute sense Lillian, and my sentiments exactly, besides, one cannot undo the past anyway so why invest there? Thank you so much.
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Excellent
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You never know which cards you will be dealt, so you have to learn how to play the hand you get.
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Too true Jim, spoken from experience I gather?
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I did play a lot of poker, but I basically gambled on everything.
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Love this. ❤️
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thank you so much Divya
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so meaningful Paul❣️
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Thank you very much Cindy
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The pleasure was mine Paul💖
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A great poem Paul. One needs to learn in the present moment
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Yes, it would change the world if we all did it – always hoping.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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🙂
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😁✨👍
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A beautiful reflection on life, Paul. Thank you so much!
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My pleasure Merril.
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Well said.
And with “risk” !!
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Thank you Ken, indeed, always that risk, thank you for noticing.
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Strange that so many live in competition for perfection. I like your view that life is circular and agree that it is not a race.
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Yes, perish the thought, races are dead finish. Thank you Patricia.
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I think what we often miss when trying to find the future we miss the present right in front of our eyes until we come to a day when all we can do is dwelling in the past.
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Yes, witnessing some friends in the that very place right now, it is a difficult road to stay in the the present but I have found peace there.
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Wise words!
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Thank you so much Astrid.
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I don’t know how many present moments I have left, so I’m living in them!
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Way to go Liz, yes indeed, the only way really.
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Too bad it took me so long to come to that realization!
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The journey takes as long as it takes 🙂 Thank you for sharing that Liz.
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You’re welcome, Paul.
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“life is not a race along linear lines of achievement or loss, there is no pennant only life itself,”.. yes!! This is incredibly exquisite in its power and wisdom 💝💝
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Thank you so much Sanaa 🙂
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So very true but hard for most of us to stay disciplined to this present moment and not be enticed into the past or the future where depression and anxiety await
>
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Yes, always that pull to either end, thank you for that.
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