The National Wine
UnClub
Newsletter
Happy Holidays!
The end of the first year of the third millennium in our Western calendar is approaching...or as has been noted by many authorities on the subject...the end of the last year of the second millennium is at hand. Regardless, we are all together at a time in our history of great importance it seems. The magnitude of that importance is felt by all and interpreted in a billion different ways. Perhaps the only significance is simply that we are all alive at one time on this tiny earth.
I find that each holiday season brings the need to reflect on the life we've lived up til now; has it been a rewarding experience of love, enjoyment, and blessing? Or have we lost time with anger, sorrow, and depression? Aren't these experiences normally intertwined? For me, and I believe for everyone, the answer is definitely "Yes". We take the 'good' with the 'bad' as the prophets say.
My intention here is to share a brief moment of respectful appreciation with you, for you. My work in the field of wine holds very little meaning without you. We all give each other greater significance by appreciating what the other brings to daily life. My day at work is meaningless without the caring and knowledgeable assistance I provide for others seeking my services. Without that regular request of me, I certainly wouldn't want to continue with the occupation that seemingly has chosen me.
My early career in life, after years of school, was dedicated to social work. I participated for over four years as a staff member in an avant-garde, live-in educational program in Canada where juvenile delinquent students were given a new start at life. The need was great in these students and I felt a huge sense of purpose in providing for them what was within me to offer. This educational program was remarkably successful because of its focus on the importance of the individual in the equation.
What bearing does this personal story from the past have on this current wine newsletter article? Well, I am always impressed with the consistently applicable principles our 'Art of Living' program of that time (the early '70s) have with my work today. All the plans and projects I've been involved with since that time have had these principles at the core. In other words, my grounding in social work prepared me for the current 'social work' I am doing.
In our social work model at this school, we had 'The Seven 'Rs' which included 'Respect' and 'Relationship'. These two have gotten me through any number of difficult and trying moments as I remembered to respect the relationship I had with the other person as the most valuable matter in our sometimes heated interchanges. Two other 'Rs' were 'Rules' and 'Roles' which reminds me that there are essential rules to the role I'm playing as a wine consultant which predetermine the positive outcome of any daily business interaction.
The other three 'Rs' were 'Responsibility', 'Realization', and 'Returning Cycle'. I am an optimist by nature and I look forward to the wonderful possibilities of a virtually limitless future in the days ahead. But, in realization, I have to stop from time to time to be responsible for today. What we have right now may not seem perfect or even remotely close to what we've envisioned in our dreams and visions. However, the step toward tomorrow and our proper returning cycle begins where we are today.
I apologize if this article sounds too philosophical or religious (that wasn't my original intention I assure you!). It just seems that time should be taken on a regular basis to recognize how things are, what blessings we have, and how they come to us. For me, these blessings come through the people I serve on a daily basis, be they family members, friends, one-time customers in my shop, or remote visitors to this website. I want to be sure I don't forget that, so I'm reminding myself in public. Thanks for taking the time to read these words. I do appreciate YOU...have a wonderful Christmas and an exciting New year!
Cheers!
Donald W. White