Imagine 2023

In this episode - Imagine 2023 . . .

Imagine it - 2023! If you’re like me from the Baby Boomer generation, it does not seem possible, yet here we are. On New Year’s Eve, I’ll admit I still celebrate at Midnight relative to Eastern Standard Time (EST).

With the advent of streaming content and YouTube TV, you can watch CNN and the celebration in New York with correspondent Anderson Cooper. This year its first since the COVID pandemic, the celebration hosted millions in Time Square. Just before The Ball dropped, Chelsea Cutler sang her rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine; this got me thinking.

Looking back on 2022, it all seems like a blur. We recovered from the worst pandemic, watched war rage in Ukraine on the news, attended a major league baseball game, went to see Cat’s on Broadway in San Diego, made our vacation trip to Yosemite National Park, celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas, and so much more. I’m so thankful this podcast has given me the discipline to document my life experiences and learning opportunities through a written ledger and audio documentary.

As I took down all the Christmas lights from the house, I listened again for the first time to the album Lennon Legend - The Very Best of John Lennon. I say for the first time because it’s as if the words in his music truly hit home that day. It moved me emotionally.

First, it was Imagine –

“Imagine there's no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace . . .”

So moved, I learned to play this song on the guitar. Then out of the blue had a revelation, Why not learn to play the piano in addition to the guitar? So, I did; well, let’s say I started.

Don’t you get tired of people asking, “What is your New Year’s Resolution for 2023?” Mine is to refine my music skills, explore the theory, transpose guitar to piano, and expand the sounds I can produce on my podcast. Then as I continued to listen, the words;

“Nobody told me there’d be days like these
Nobody told me there’d be days like these
Nobody told me there’d be days like these
Strange days indeed
Strange days indeed.”

I realized, "Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Maybe we are just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round?

But one thing you can be assured of is;

“Our life together is so precious together
We have grown; we have grown
Although our love is still special
Let’s take a chance and fly away
Somewhere alone
It’s been too long since we took the time
No one’s to blame; I know time flies so quickly
But when I see you, darling
It’s like we both are falling in love again
It’ll be just like starting over
Starting over.”

My listening friends, 2023 is about starting over. Your life is what you make it. So, get on with it. Take each day as it comes, but don’t be afraid to try something new - live a little!

I’m Patrick Ball; thanks for listening; see you in the next episode.

Comments

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

History Isn’t a Museum

✨ In this episode, History Isn't a Museum—It's a River . . . History isn't a museum—it's a river, and like it or not, we're already swimming in it. Its waters carry timeless lessons forward, flowing through each generation, waiting to be rediscovered . This profound realization struck me while reading Marcus Aurelius's Meditations . Imagine: a Roman emperor and philosopher two thousand years ago, writing notes that sound like advice from a modern mindfulness coach. When he says, "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength," it feels like he's speaking directly to us. The water may change, but the river is the same. Examining this writing with a fresh, childlike perspective and a wealth of experience, I realize how consistent human nature remains over time. Every generation faces familiar challenges, marked by frustration, peace, courage, faith, baseball, and the search for meaning across the ages...

Lessons from 1872

In this episode, Lessons from 1872: Travel in the Age of No-WiFi . . . Imagine having 80 days to explore the world, with no smartphones, no jet planes, and no money concerns. A thrilling thought, right? That’s the fantasy Jules Verne implies in his classic adventure, Around the World in 80 Days , and it's a question I've been pondering from my easy chair in Vista, California. This week’s On the Fly , we're traveling back in time with one of the most thrilling literary adventures ever written. Early on, it’s clear this is Phileas Fogg’s story—a man of clocks and calculations, whose every move is measured. His journey isn’t about discovery, but a bet—a mathematical challenge involving money, schedules, and perfect timing. But when you think he’s the engine of the story, someone else quietly steals the show. Meet Passepartout: The Heart of the Journey. Jean Passepartout, Fogg’s new valet, is Fogg’s complete opposite. A former circus acrobat seeking a quiet life, he joins Fo...

You're Not Stuck

✨ In this episode, You’re not Stuck—you’re in a habit you forgot you built. One bad moment can ruin your day, but one habit can change your life. In this episode of On the Fly , discover how small, daily actions can rewire your mindset, replace negativity with possibilities, and even lift the people around you. Your 7-day challenge starts now. You’re Not Stuck—You’re Just in a Habit. Yes, a single bad moment, a rough headline, or a tense conversation can throw off your entire day. Before you know it, your thoughts are spinning in a hamster wheel of frustration and negativity. Here’s the reality: you don’t have to stay on that wheel. The secret isn’t a lightning bolt of motivation—it’s something quieter but far more powerful: habit. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle. Mindset doesn’t change through grand gestures—it changes through small, repeatable actions . Your brain is constantly building pathways—tiny roads tha...

On The Fly

Search This Blog