In my former career I was a mapmaker. No seriously! My degree is in Cartography which is map making. I worked for the US Department of Defense in mapping and charting division, then targets division, and just before I retired/resigned I worked in digital productions. Some of the work was very interesting, and some rather mundane. Sounds like any job doesn’t it?
Ever look at ancient mariner’s maps? I love old world maps. The skill and artistry they used to create their maps and charts were truly masterful, especially when you consider the tools they used. In modern times we use sophisticated sources that we can neither confirm nor deny the existence of, and in some cases would blow your mind. Those high-tech things that you think are fictional in movies? Mere child’s play. I better quit now, I signed many forms to not divulge secrets.
Moving on . . . those ancient charts had markings in common places that read “Here There be Dragons”. One common spot was off the coast of China. Another is in the upper Atlantic area between Great Britain, Greenland, Iceland, Nova Scotia, and New England area of the U.S. It was unknown. Maybe they saw whales, or giant squids, or Nessie’s relatives. Who knows what they actually thought they saw. The point is it was unknown and uncharted. Danger, danger Will Robinson!
Isn’t this how most of us approach our unknowns? Our first reaction is a sharp intake of breath followed by rising pulse and a big red DANGER flashing in our minds? Why? Because it’s unknown. Better the devil we know than the one we don’t.
This big sign hangs over that section of our lives we call unknown: Here there Be Dragons! We are afraid to go beyond that border of the familiar and venture into the land of dragons. We makes lines of demarcation on the borders to warn us not to venture beyond this point.
Enter the Dragonslayer! (Insert dramatic music here and picture of imperious heroine standing arms akimbo on the deck of my sailing vessel!) No, I’m not going to slay your dragons for you. No, I don’t work for hire; unless you pay in Caribbean vacations and chocolate. No, I’m not slaughtering innocent dragons. NO dragon was harmed in the writing of this post. I’m exploring the boundaries of my own limitations, and re-evaluating those areas labeled as new and different. I’m updating my maps to explore the dangerous land of dragons.
We laugh at Medieval superstitions, but we do the very same thing in our own lives with much smaller matters. 2012 is the year my borders are expanded, and my myths are busted! Just because I haven’t done it before doesn’t mean I can’t. Just because I haven’t obtained success in a certain area doesn’t mean I won’t. Just because my past is boring doesn’t mean my future will be. Get the picture?
For those of you that prefer your nice, neat, tidy little boxes beware. I’m in a box smashing mood, and on a rut destroying mission. It may spill over on you if you get too close! For those brave souls who like adventure, I invite you to come along on the explorations and adventure. Strangely when the explorations begin, that dragon that cast the ominous shadow turns out to be a tiny lizard with a blue tail.
I know, about now you’re wondering where do I come up with this stuff? To give you a little insight into that dark hallway you can take a look at a friend’s blog that inspired my dragon slaying adventure. http://wideawakebutdreaming.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/leap-day-grinding/
Sort of a yang to his yin! Many members of my extended family are rutmakers. I hate ruts! I think I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I like to change things frequently. If you check my post for THAT’S SPICY!, I mention it there.
February was less productive than I would have liked it to be. I really didn’t make much progress towards my main goals, and this sickness has derailed me even more. I’ve been plotting my charts for March, and setting milestones to achieve. While working on that I visited Raymond’s blog, and I was off and running!
Hope there are a few brave souls to join my crew of adventurers as we sail into the unknown, charting new territory.
My course? Second star the right, straight on till morning!
The second star to the right
Shines in the night for you
To tell you that the dreams you plan
Really can come true!
Avast ye mateys, all aboard Starship Mack as we sail the uncharted waters!
quotidiandose 