By Marc W. Polite
Greetings my readers. Tomorrow is the 10 year anniversary of the publication of my second book. On March 4th, 2015, I launched “Everything to Learn, Nothing to Teach” as my entry into the publishing world as a writer of essays. After doing a poetry book two years earlier, I found myself with a lot more to say.
I felt it necessary to expound at length upon my outlook on life at the time. Recently, I read through the book, and realized how much has changed in my life in the past decade.
There are some points I made that, unfortunately have come to pass(Honestly, I wish I was wrong about the attacks on public workers), while others were off. In some cases, there was no way to see every social development coming down the pike that long ago. Nobody saw the pandemic coming.
With so many years having passed, I truly understand why some authors wince at their old work at times. Not that anyone should be ashamed of what they put out, but looking back, there are times a writer can say to themselves, “I would have written this chapter differently.”
Also, looking back, I also realize that I could not re-write “Everything to Learn, Nothing to Teach” over again even if I wanted to. I’m not the same man I was ten years ago.
Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man“.
This is so true, and I have felt it in my own lived experience. Anything I put out in the future will be different from what I have offered in the past. Besides, where’s the growth in giving you all a modified version of what I have done in the past?
With that said, I want to say thank you for continuing to read this blog, as well as my other literary offerings in the form of my more recent books. Thankfully, I have been making the rounds, and going on a mini tour of sorts in the venues and spaces that have welcomed me.
Since I will likely not have time to write this post tomorrow, I am publishing it the night before. Take care, and have a great night.
M.W.P