No End In Sight

The paradigm of beginning-end is something we need to rethink. The very idea that something is complete brings into focus a feeling of finality, nothing more to achieve, no greater heights to reach, or nothing more to experience. I find these thoughts or ideas to be depressing. Aside from the ultimate manifestation of life and death, the beginning-end paradigm is the underpinning of arbitrary markers defining our progression through life’s various stages. These markers incorporate societal expectations regarding behavior, family, finance, career, health, love, sex, etc. As someone who does not like to live by other’s rules, I strive to be the square peg just to prove I don’t fit neatly into any pre-packaged typology.

The documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, tells the story of Jiro Ono who lives for the quest of sushi perfection. As an eighty-five year old sushi shokunin who has already earned a 3-Star Michelin rating and a world reputation as the best in his field, you would think that Jiro has achieved the ultimate “end” in his pursuits. Not so. As presented in the documentary, Jiro continues to pursue improvements in his sushi and how it is presented to his customers. And what drives Jiro to this “never-ending” quest? It’s his love for his craft. Sushi is Jiro’s art and as an artist continuous innovation and improvement is his magic elixir. To feel such passion should be the goal for all.

So friends, eliminate the word “end” from your vocabulary. Every day is a new beginning during which you can build on what you achieved and learned from your previous day. Find the passion that fuels your journey and to Hell with what others may say or think. At the beautiful age of 87, the diminutive Jane Little passed away playing her base cello for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Doing what she loved, continually working on her art. I bet she never accepted the concept of there being an “end”. Neither should you.