The Window Tax

  

It was established in England in 1696, and repealed 156 years later. They called it the window tax. If you were fortunate enough to have a home with a certain number of windows, you were taxed for the more you had. The solution of many homeowners, to board or brick up their extra windows.Why mention this on New Year’s Day? Because too often, for similar reasons, we do the same thing. Sometimes in life, people allow themselves to stop dreaming. We tell the visionary part of us that, it’s either too costly, too dangerous, or for a younger person.

Fear refers that wide eyed, anything is possible, part of us, to those reckless dreamers with little plans, who lost everything. We rationalize to our brains that it wasn’t there lack of preparation that was the problem, but their attempt to try.  

Yoda may have said “Do or do not, there is no try…” But he was a muppet/puppet. Some things need to be tried, if not for the grand climax, but the grand pursuit. Ninety percent of the Jazz musicians in the world will never be Wynton Marsalis, but oh how they love to play. There is joy, learning, strength, and hope in the attempt.

Do you know what the difference between a rock through a window, and a brick wall in front of one is? You can see around the rock, but you can’t see anything through the bricks. Don’t allow the fear of a rock being thrown into the middle of your vision to board up your dreams.

I can guarantee, someone will throw rocks. A broken pane is easier to replace than the light it costs you when you board up your vision. Today is January 1, make a plan to get rid of the bricks and boards, so you can see clearly every possibility available. A balanced plan, with eyes to the horizon, and feet firmly on the ground, but plan.  

You’ll be surprised how beautiful the sunlight shines through those forgotten windows. They not only improve you, but they encourage others to do the same. Yes, as we get older, there’s a tax on vision, but it is most definitely worth it. Just look at that sunrise!

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