
“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.”
Jean-Paul Sartre
It has been a while since I have updated Clanmother, four years since I wrote about the brave Group of Twenty-Two who launched the SPCA.
I looked back at my “about page” to see if anything had changed.
I was given the title, Clanmother, September 2008, when I was travelling the Scottish Highlands with an audacious collection of young people who came from all over the world to join an expedition to the misty Isle of Skye. I was the oldest woman on the tour, so the title was appropriate. What was more surprising was that I liked the label – it was catchy, spirited and encompassed the next stage in my life. It was my turn to grow old. I stood at Glencoe, breathing the chilled air, memorizing, for future recall, the rugged terrain covered with proverbial heather. There was certainty in my thoughts. This was going to be my most profound and daring adventure.

That was over ten years ago.
What an adventure it has been – everything that I had imagined as I stood at Glencoe, many years ago, has, in some way, come to pass. Perhaps not as I imagined it would, but as it was meant to be. It is always about the moment that is lived that gives purpose to the forward movement. The now seems to embrace past and future with its persistent demand for living for the present.
Welcome to a new year, a new decade. The adventures continue. I believe in pursuing dreams.

“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.”
Gabriel García Márquez

33 replies on “Welcome to 2020!”
Beautiful!

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I’ve started up Clanmother again. This is the blog about looking back at what was and the people who made our life possible. Think about how to live in a world without antibiotics! It is also my reflections on the aging process. We live in interesting times.
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Happy New Year from the Interior of BC!
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Thank you, Peter. I am looking forward to following your adventures in 2020. Happy New Year – all the very best to you and Gertrud. I grew up in Northern Manitoba, far, far away from where I am now in Vancouver. I understand your love for the north.
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I just read your expectations regarding comments on your blog and I completely agree with them. As a matter of fact, they are clearly stated and should be respected by all your followers whether they agree with or not. Happy New Year!
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I am learning, as I age, that kindness, gentleness and compassion create amazing conversations. Happy New Year. Thank you for your encouraging comments. So very much appreciated.
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LOVE the baby!!!! And the painting – a reminder to have lots of fun in the coming year!!!
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Exactly!!
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Dear Rebecca, it was a real pleasure o read your post and despite the fact that it is not always easy not to lose ones dreams, I very much agree with the following words by Jean-Paul Sartre:“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.”
I, however, very much hope for you that many of your dreams will be realized.
Very best regards Martina
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How wonderful to hear from you Martina! Happy New year, my dear friend. Dreams have a wonderful way to transforming what what we envision to what we experience. It is as Jean-Paul Sartre said, age provides clarity, understanding, acceptance. I am delighted that we are entering a new decade together! Hugs coming to you across the ocean…
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:):)
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Here’s to pursuing dreams, my dear Rebecca! xoxoxoxo
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Yes!!!! It’s exciting to be pursuing and sharing our dreams as we go along. Happy Happy New Year, my dear friend.
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❤️🤗❤️
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I love the story of your name! Wishing you all the best in 2020!
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Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Happy New Year! The adventures continue….
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So that’s where the moniker Clanmother came from. Thanks for sharing, and a Happy New Year to you too. xo
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I am glad that I’ve come back to Clanmother. It is my exploration into the past and how it applies to us today. It is my attempt at bridging past ideas, thought processes with today’s philosophy and way of living within a complex world. What are the repeating themes? How can we apply lessons learned? Every generation believes they have attained a greater understanding of humanity’s narrative. Is this true or are we experiencing a form of egoism.
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I do believe for many it is a form of egoism, but certainly not all. I look forward to your Clanmother philosophy in the days to come! 💚
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Looking forward to our conversations, Jennifer. Many thanks.
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Seeing your posts – and later reading them off line at home, – is like having a lovely dessert after an especially wonderful meal! This post was especially sweet, and it’s my loss that I’m not online in the privacy of my home – for those late-night smoke signals from continent to continent – or to hear the audios that I am wistful to hear! Those are carrots on the stick, and until that happens, I’m content to pull up the rear and send those smoke signals when possible!
May 2020 be a lovely year for you!
Love,
Lisa
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Oh Lisa, I love those smoke signals – they have a magical quality for they come in vibrant colours, and have a sweet smell of flowers. I’ll always remember your rides around the globe. So glad that we are heading into the 2020 unknown together. The exploration continues.
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Happy 2020 and new decade Rebecca!
I adore that poem. I have since the first time I heard it, as a child.
You have done it wonderful justice! Chapeau!
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Thank you, dear Resa. You are a wonderful support and encouragement!
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A decade of blogging here and your About page is still a great one. Of course, YOU are the great one and the page simply reflects that xo I wish you and family a wonderful 2020!!
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We have been on a grand adventure, together. So much has happened in your life in 2019. Congratulations!! So glad we have entered a new decade together.
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A really inspiring and beautiful post, dear Rebecca. I love the quotes which are both so true. Made me think of the ‘Happy Thoughts’ song from South Pacific. “You gotta have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?” Hope this is going to be a glorious and memorable year for you. 😘🤗
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We are on a grand adventure. So glad that we are sharing the journey together. The other day someone mentioned the words “pipe dream” which, as you know, is defined as “an unattainable or fanciful hope or scheme.” It caught my attention because I think that we should believe in pipe dreams. I have seen many come to pass. And more are coming in 2020. Hugs coming your way.
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Thanks Rebecca for sharing these wonderful quotes.
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Thanks for joining me on the adventures of 2020. This is going to be a great year of exploration.
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What an inspiring post!
I so love this quote: “It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.” Unfortunately, I believe it is true! I am a true believer that we are never too old to keep going over our goals. I have wanted to create a blog for so long and I finally did it. You always hear of people that are 70 something that graduate high school and college. If you have the will to do something, you can make it so!
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Well said! Welcome to 2020 where the possibilities are waiting for our arrival. Looking forward to our ongoing conversation….
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