Let us observe “new beginnings” around us. Life itself is a new beginning! Perhaps we start here, or perhaps this is too simplistic. Here we are in the universe, on Earth, in the United States, in our state, in our town, our home, so let us begin. Each of us had a personal beginning on the day of conception. We were born, some first-born, which was a new beginning for our parents. Their lives would never again be the same. They watched as we lay helpless in our crib, thrilled to note when we used our eyes, recognized voices, and eventually smiled, for the first time. We responded to always to be fed to us. We were helpless. As babies, we raised our head for the first time. We responded to touch and voice and bonded with those around us. We learned to trust that when we cried, we would be given milk. It was our small world. Soon we rolled over, sat up, produced a tooth, crawled, stood, walked and had our first birthday, a joy for our parents, and for us, too. us, life was a joy. Though we didn’t remember it, a first birthday is another new beginning.
In due time school begins, and we learn to read and adjust to being outside our homes for the first time, away from our family. Age six is a wonderful, sometimes scary age, a new beginning. Some of us remember Kindergarten as the first challenge in a new situation. In today’s world children often meet those challenges even earlier, in day care for instance. Soon, as years pass, boys barely notice girls except as nuisances. Boys get around that later. Sports become consuming to many of them, while little girls play dolls, house and other girl things, and some sports as well in this modern age. As they proceed to middle school and later high school the opposite sex is suddenly important. They are overcome by the female gender. In days of yore, the opposite sex was a mystery, not to be known about until one was “old enough to know” and most tried to abide by those unwritten rules. If not, their parents saw to it that they did. Or else!
This didn’t last long. The rules changed. The ones with ‘experience’ are sought out and they talk, secretly, about the “first time,” maybe a first kiss, until at some point the conversations eventually lead to any number of things. For many the inevitable cycle of life takes place prematurely. Nature has played a trick on them. Little did one know, in the midst of uncontrollable adolescent passion, and with no intent on their part, Mother Nature was simply ensuring the human race will continue. A baby is conceived much to their surprise. This was not in the plan. Some will marry. Some will not. No matter what, it’s a new beginning, one way or another. Lives will change.
Some go to college after high school. It is a whole new beginning for them and their parents who suffer alone in most cases. Being without their children for the first time is a new beginning actually, for parents to find they can once more be alone with each other or themselves for the first time since they became parents. This was something they had looked forward to for years through the fulfilling, but often frustrating years of parenthood. This is also a crucial first time for some who find they simply cannot adjust. It is a time when many reevaluate their marriages. A marriage may grow stronger, and the bond strengthens, a new beginning. On the other hand, a divorce or separation occurs, and another form of a new beginning ensues while each finds him or herself.
But the child goes away happily oblivious to any problems anywhere, on their own for the first time but life changed. No one is around to remind or nag them to clean their room, do their lessons, or laundry, get to bed or get up. They are thrilled with the freedom. They can skip meals like breakfast, sleep late if there are no early classes. Who cares? If they haven’t already tried drugs or alcohol, which more than likely they did experiment with in high school or sooner, they now have the freedom to do it with no parents around to worry about. But of course, there are consequences, whether by police or failing grades, for it is up to the student now to make crucial decisions. This is called growing up for the first time. For the first time parents may wonder why those grades are so low. Too bad when the student is kicked out. Sometimes maturity arrives quickly along with responsibility, and they survive and carry on, eventually completing their dreams for the first time, a new beginning.
Other students, the dependable and ambitious ones, who do all the right things, survive and graduate to their first jobs and the cycle begins again. Careers are new beginnings as each person realizes his or her potential and talents, whether music, medicine, writing, engineering…all part of the life experience and … new beginnings. Romance, marriage, and family often follow, with new beginnings still to come. And grandparents relish their first grandchild. It is a new beginning for them, too.
Lest we forget those who never have the opportunity or want to go to college and were still able to succeed with good brains and hard work. Others work their way through college, others succeeded in the “school of hard knocks.” Don’t forget the number of young men who went off to war last century. Those who survived did so with the dreadful life experiences engraved in their very souls, yet most carried on and began a new life. It was a new beginning for these young men which would change the nation. After World War II these young people had the opportunity to get an education through the GI Bill. They had seen much of the country and the world in their travel and training and a new era began of leaving the old hometown and most struck out on their own. A new beginning for the average person who might never have had such opportunities.
Do we rush through our lives until suddenly it’s time to ponder retirement? Is this a new beginning? Dreaded by many of those whose work is their whole life, suddenly it’s, “Now I’m old and retired. What do to?”
Opportunities abound. Learning new skills, adopting new skills. It’s a new era and we hear predictions of life continuing for twice as long as life expectancy today. How many of us can look at this inevitable time of our lives, whether now or eventually and not think in terms of, “Wow! For me it’s a new beginning!” No matter what your age, new beginnings are inevitable. Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! Hang on and enjoy this new beginning. For me, it’s learning the computer! I wish!
The End