Written by Karen D. Swim
My 4 year old cousin pulled at my pant leg, commanding my attention. I 
turned toward him to tune in to the conversation that he had apparently been having with me. He then pointed to a big Tonka truck and told me to say “Hi” to Tom. I saw a truck, rather large but otherwise nondescript. But Ryan saw a magical world where two toy trucks became Tom and Jerry (his favorite cartoon characters). Ryan is still young enough to allow his imagination to create magic from the ordinary.
Today, many of us can use a little magic. It is, after all, Tax Day in the U.S. We can look at the forms and numbers and simply see the amount of zeroes needed on the check or we can see goals accomplished, clients serviced, tasks completed and milestones reached. The numbers can make us scowl or provide a goal for the year ahead.
The magic is ours to create, so what will you see? Bottom line numbers or a big awesome vision that sparkles with possibility?
How do you keep the magic in your own life?
Karl, I smiled when I saw your name. I did not even have to read your words to know that you truly are one who works on keeping the magic in his life. It shows in everything you do. My favorite part of your formula though are the words about your sweet wife. I just know that your little bundle of joy will arrive laughing. 🙂
Jeanne, all who know you would agree that the magic you see in us is the magic you bring. 😉 I awakened this morning with a heart of gratitude too and you were one of the many blessings i counted!
Yeehaw Robert! I only owed a tiny bit and was so very thankful because I admittedly was afraid it would be more. I kind of missed that moment too ;- ( but I remembered to celebrate later. 😉 They are way too high , way too time consuming and just way too complicated but thank goodness it’s over for now! 🙂
Oh Conor, that is beautiful! I can remember reading this years ago and I’m so so glad you not only remembered it but shared it here. What a wonderful gift!
Andrew, you are such a dear, dear, man! I think you have just made half the nation breathe a sigh of relief. 😉 I suffer from cobbler’s kids syndrome too so please don’t feel bad.
If you’ll stick around I will help you with the magic. 😉
I keep magic in my life by…
– writing poetry
– going for walks and looking for small flowers
– wrestling with my dog
– making sweet love to my wife 🙂
– brainstorming on my business
Life is filled with magic if we only take the time to notice.
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Hi, What a great poem! One way I try to keep the magic is to use my imagination … why do children stop doing that at some point in their life? … For instance it occurred to me that the government could really jump start the economy by delivering tax refunds in the form of U.S. made product instead of cash. Send a washing machine or a refrigerator or a couple plasma TVs. Silly, maybe, it keeps me fresh. 🙂
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Karen,
You’re such a bright spot! I started this day early and with great gladness in my heart despite owing the tax man a big debt. Gratitude is my baseline but it’s greatly magnified by your reminder of the magic we make when we conceive, meet, and exceed goals.
I create magic by associating with people like you. Creating magic seems to come most easily when I keep my mind, heart, and eyes open to the possibilities; I don’t always succeed but thanks for helping me to remember to keep at it.
Karen, I’m sorry to say I missed that magic moment when I looked down and saw I was actually getting a refund instead of owing like I thought I would. Not that I wasn’t grateful, mind you, but I must admit to miserably failing in saying “thanks, God, for the job!”
Sigh.
Thanks for helping me see – and give thanks – for the taxes! Even if they ARE too ding-blasted high! 😀
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Hi Karen,
This sense of childlike wonder makes me think of Patrick Kavanagh’s poem, Advent. Enjoy 🙂
Advent – by Patrick Kavanagh
We have tested and tasted too much, lover-
Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder.
But here in the Advent-darkened room
Where the dry black bread and the sugarless tea
Of penance will charm back the luxury
Of a child’s soul, we’ll return to Doom
The knowledge we stole but could not use.
And the newness that was in every stale thing
When we looked at it as children: the spirit-shocking
Wonder in a black slanting Ulster hill
Or the prophetic astonishment in the tedious talking
Of an old fool will awake for us and bring
You and me to the yard gate to watch the whins
And the bog-holes, cart-tracks, old stables where Time begins.
O after Christmas we’ll have no need to go searching
For the difference that sets an old phrase burning-
We’ll hear it in the whispered argument of a churning
Or in the streets where the village boys are lurching.
And we’ll hear it among decent men too
Who barrow dung in gardens under trees,
Wherever life pours ordinary plenty.
Won’t we be rich, my love and I, and
God we shall not ask for reason’s payment,
The why of heart-breaking strangeness in dreeping hedges
Nor analyse God’s breath in common statement.
We have thrown into the dust-bin the clay-minted wages
Of pleasure, knowledge and the conscious hour-
And Christ comes with a January flower.
Karen,
It’s an embarrassing admission, but for a former Certified Practicing Accountant, my own record keeping with respect to tax affairs usually represents a shambles.
How do I keep the magic in my life? I guess I don’t really have any set ways of keeping myself inspired. Perhaps this is an area in which I could use some work.
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