The Whole Of The Moon

dedicated to a fraternity brod who first shared this song with me three weeks ago.

you stretched for the stars
and you know how it feels
to reach too high
too far
too soon
you saw the whole of the moon
from: the whole of the moon, by the Waterboys


2012 started out with anticipation, like all Januaries do. The year also started with three times the usual number of people wanting to sound me out on a range of things. That has been the norm as far back as I can remember. The significance of the sheer number of consults over the years was lost to me perhaps because I had gotten used to it already. Until I heard this song. And then it hit me.

I started going through the recent consults and most of it was about over-reaching, or over-reacting. And here I was, telling them the outcome of their actions far far beyond what they could see. Or conversely, I would realign their proposed actions if I knew that the backlash would be so intense, possibly even life-changing, should it proceed unaltered. Then I would keep quiet and wait for things to unfold.

Although through the years the theme would mostly be the same, what changes would be the situations they find themselves in. Work. Career. Family. Friends. Relationships. And although my advice is rarely followed, or followed to the letter, the outcome is almost always as predicted. And I end up with the pleasure of using my favorite line. "I Told You So".

And inevitably another consult begins again.

Seeing the whole of the moon is easier if you move back a bit. Anyone immersed in a situation will usually be so busy looking at all the details to ever see the big picture. And that applies to everyone.

Now, where do I find someone who can see the whole of the moon for me?


Jesus Paul C. Yan
for The Paul Yan Chronicles