Eight years ago, I declared December 1st as Tabula Rasa Day! I have invited several new peeps to participate so they asked me the origin of Tabula Rasa Day, so here is the answer ...
The story starts with my sister living in a bad apartment complex, and the first few months of my divorce being finalized. My ex-wife and I made an agreement about the sale of the house, and that I would move out of the house while it was being sold.
The search was on for an apartment with my sister! And this isn't the first time we've lived together either, or on account of the ex. In my mind, I wasn't ready to encounter my ex on a regular or semi regular basis so I wanted to be south of her as much as possible.
That meant near my work location of Issaquah. My sister also worked at Costco Travel with me at the time, so it would benefit her as well to live in the city of Issaquah. I located an apartment complex that was mere minutes away. However, I was busy as hell so I was unable to view the available units.
WCP and I picked one, sight unseen, which was a corner unit with a "view". We didn't realize it until later that was the single most important decision that faith rewarded us greatly.
At any rate, after an exhausting move on December 1st, she and I plopped down on the couch. While sipping on victory beers, and looking out the large windows into the I-90 valley below, I mused with WCP, what the rules and regulations of holidays.
Charrina answered, "You would know better than I, big brother."
"True," I replied. "Most holidays are a celebration or recognition of their accomplishments, birthdays, and the person or persons are usually dead or killed. I don't like either premise."
"Then look it up," she retorted.
I stood up, and did a brief Google search to discover that there really are no rules and regulations governing holidays other than everyone else buying into the effort and supporting the idea.
So I thought for what I've lived through and survived, I deserved a medal, an oversized check, a trophy, a trophy-girl to hand over said trophy, and lastly, a holiday!
Then? It was born. Tabula Rasa Day!
Why? It was the first day, of the first month, of the first year, of the rest of my life. A do-over, per se. A second chance, and a new lease on life. As you guessed it, a blank slate to start again.
I realized in order to have support beyond my immediate friends and family, I would need a compelling reason to celebrate.
What is Tabula Rasa Day? I created a holiday to celebrate inner freedom to start over. I declared December 1st , as Tabula Rasa Day ['tabula rasa' is Latin for "blank slate"]
Why Tabula Rasa Day? Why not blank slate day or something easier to market? Most Romance Languages are based in Latin, and for some English words. I created the holiday for myself - a day to challenge myself to be introspective, to challenge myself, by making a declaration of change! Most importantly, it's NOT A RESOLUTION LIKE NEW YEARS!
The following is frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Tabula Rasa Day.
Q: Is it always celebrated on December 1st?
A: Regardless of the day of the week, it'll ALWAYS be December 1st. No exceptions, I will not be swayed on this matter. USA holidays either fall on the same date every year (e.g. Christmas) or same day (e.g. Thanksgiving) I was forced to pick one, and I chose the former over the latter.
Q: Does my Tabula Rasa Day Declaration have any requirements? Who's accountable for it?
A: No requirements; big or small. It could be mundane like changing the flavor of syrup you get at Starbucks (almond to hazelnut) to life changing like one of my friends who skydived. No one's accountable except yourself. If you lie then you are lying to yourself.
Q: How do we celebrate Tabula Rasa Day?
A: It's original vision was to have a Washington Apple shot, then a domestic beer chaser. As I've observed others wanting to celebrate with me, I've relented on that for others. I continue the tradition but with that said, anyone can celebrate with me - with alcohol, with wine, with soda, with water.
Q: Does my Tabula Rasa Day Declaration have an expiration date? Must I continue to pursue for a year?
A: Again, it's not a resolution. It's a declaration! You state something, like I did last year, and follow through. Your declaration has no expiration date, but the intent and spirit of it is to complete within the year until next Tabula Rasa Day
Q: What was your Tabula Rasa Day Declaration last year? Have you done your previous year's declarations?
A: To own a home (i.e. house, townhouse, condo). And yes, I've completed previous years declarations.
Q: It's Tabula Rasa Day VIII. Eight years is a quite sometime. Are you running out of challenges for yourself?
A: No. Never will.
Q: Tabula Rasa Day is not known to many people as a holiday. Do you envision it being statewide? Nationwide? How about worldwide?
A: Firstly, I'm pleasantly shocked how many of my friends and family celebrate with me. Let alone, co-workers, friends of friends, etc. To answer the question, it would be extraordinary if my message of inspiration becomes a 'thing'.
Q: In 2018, Tabula Rasa Day falls on a Saturday. It'll be the 10th anniversary. Are you planning something big and more extravagant than the 4th year?
A: Maybe or maybe not. Guess you'll have to stick around long enough to find out!
Q: When will you stop celebrating Tabula Rasa Day? Will you take a 'break'?
A: When will I stop? I won't, and I'm hoping beyond my death that others will celebrate it.
The story starts with my sister living in a bad apartment complex, and the first few months of my divorce being finalized. My ex-wife and I made an agreement about the sale of the house, and that I would move out of the house while it was being sold.
The search was on for an apartment with my sister! And this isn't the first time we've lived together either, or on account of the ex. In my mind, I wasn't ready to encounter my ex on a regular or semi regular basis so I wanted to be south of her as much as possible.That meant near my work location of Issaquah. My sister also worked at Costco Travel with me at the time, so it would benefit her as well to live in the city of Issaquah. I located an apartment complex that was mere minutes away. However, I was busy as hell so I was unable to view the available units.
WCP and I picked one, sight unseen, which was a corner unit with a "view". We didn't realize it until later that was the single most important decision that faith rewarded us greatly.
At any rate, after an exhausting move on December 1st, she and I plopped down on the couch. While sipping on victory beers, and looking out the large windows into the I-90 valley below, I mused with WCP, what the rules and regulations of holidays.
Charrina answered, "You would know better than I, big brother."
"True," I replied. "Most holidays are a celebration or recognition of their accomplishments, birthdays, and the person or persons are usually dead or killed. I don't like either premise."
"Then look it up," she retorted.
I stood up, and did a brief Google search to discover that there really are no rules and regulations governing holidays other than everyone else buying into the effort and supporting the idea.
So I thought for what I've lived through and survived, I deserved a medal, an oversized check, a trophy, a trophy-girl to hand over said trophy, and lastly, a holiday!
Then? It was born. Tabula Rasa Day!
Why? It was the first day, of the first month, of the first year, of the rest of my life. A do-over, per se. A second chance, and a new lease on life. As you guessed it, a blank slate to start again.
I realized in order to have support beyond my immediate friends and family, I would need a compelling reason to celebrate.
What is Tabula Rasa Day? I created a holiday to celebrate inner freedom to start over. I declared December 1st , as Tabula Rasa Day ['tabula rasa' is Latin for "blank slate"]
Why Tabula Rasa Day? Why not blank slate day or something easier to market? Most Romance Languages are based in Latin, and for some English words. I created the holiday for myself - a day to challenge myself to be introspective, to challenge myself, by making a declaration of change! Most importantly, it's NOT A RESOLUTION LIKE NEW YEARS!
The following is frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Tabula Rasa Day.
Q: Is it always celebrated on December 1st?
A: Regardless of the day of the week, it'll ALWAYS be December 1st. No exceptions, I will not be swayed on this matter. USA holidays either fall on the same date every year (e.g. Christmas) or same day (e.g. Thanksgiving) I was forced to pick one, and I chose the former over the latter.
Q: Does my Tabula Rasa Day Declaration have any requirements? Who's accountable for it?
A: No requirements; big or small. It could be mundane like changing the flavor of syrup you get at Starbucks (almond to hazelnut) to life changing like one of my friends who skydived. No one's accountable except yourself. If you lie then you are lying to yourself.
A: It's original vision was to have a Washington Apple shot, then a domestic beer chaser. As I've observed others wanting to celebrate with me, I've relented on that for others. I continue the tradition but with that said, anyone can celebrate with me - with alcohol, with wine, with soda, with water.
Q: Does my Tabula Rasa Day Declaration have an expiration date? Must I continue to pursue for a year?
A: Again, it's not a resolution. It's a declaration! You state something, like I did last year, and follow through. Your declaration has no expiration date, but the intent and spirit of it is to complete within the year until next Tabula Rasa Day
Q: What was your Tabula Rasa Day Declaration last year? Have you done your previous year's declarations?
A: To own a home (i.e. house, townhouse, condo). And yes, I've completed previous years declarations.
A: No. Never will.
Q: Tabula Rasa Day is not known to many people as a holiday. Do you envision it being statewide? Nationwide? How about worldwide?
A: Firstly, I'm pleasantly shocked how many of my friends and family celebrate with me. Let alone, co-workers, friends of friends, etc. To answer the question, it would be extraordinary if my message of inspiration becomes a 'thing'.
Q: In 2018, Tabula Rasa Day falls on a Saturday. It'll be the 10th anniversary. Are you planning something big and more extravagant than the 4th year?
A: Maybe or maybe not. Guess you'll have to stick around long enough to find out!
Q: When will you stop celebrating Tabula Rasa Day? Will you take a 'break'?
A: When will I stop? I won't, and I'm hoping beyond my death that others will celebrate it.
So Seattle, and Spaceship Earth, do you want to celebrate Tabula Rasa Day with me? If so, what's your Tabula Rasa Declaration? Will be a simple change? Life changing? Please comment below with your TRD so I can follow up with you next year!
Until the next drop, be good like you should and if you can't be good, be good at what you do!
Mic drop *bOoM*
'los; out
Comments
Post a Comment