Opening Fanfare

The opening fanfare to the original Star Wars movie is probably one of the most famous, most parodied, most imitated opening themes in pop culture.

By the way, I need to know when “pop culture” becomes “history.” Anybody who has lived through that transition with sanity intact, please let me know how it’s done.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, few people probably remember the film “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.” At minimum, most people who remember that the film exists don’t recall the film in any great detail. I do. More than one scene, to be exact. I can even recite some of the poetry from the pimp pageant. One of the running gags in the film is that the main character has his own 70’s black-sploitation film theme song, complete with a band that follows him around everywhere playing the tune.

I got a birthday card from my witty, very sweet sister-in-law that says “A long, long time ago…” on the front cover. There are stars on the cover, as well, and it looks like the opening crawl from the original Star Wars movie. On the inside it says, “You were born.” Since she’s eight years older than me, the age jab is almost required. The best part of the card (apart from her handwritten note, of course), is that it actually plays the first 30 seconds or so of the opening fanfare from the movie. The card rocks on so many levels.

I am taking the card to work. I plan on opening it every morning when I get there. Why not begin each day with great fanfare? Why not have your own theme song to inject some spice and energy into your day? So what if I have to borrow John Williams’ fantastic score? Not a problem. The point is simply this: I deserve to begin each day feeling like a million bucks. I can rely on meditation or self-examination or ritual to get me started in a positive manner each day. And I can also rely on failing to get off on the right foot at least a few times each month. What difference does that make, though, if I have that stirring musical number to get me jazzed?

Do something exciting for yourself every day. Don’t rely on anyone else to adjust your compass to North each morning. It’s all about you, and it’s up to you. Just find a way to make it special.

I can look forward to my own opening fanfare.