Earl Large never saw himself as creative artistically.
Even when he was disrupting the business world in the 1960s and B次元官网网址�70s, convincing organizations big and small of the value of incorporating the power of computers, he was more about getting the work done and inspiring others to do so than taking time to hone his creative writing skills.
Despite the focus on business success, of which the 85-year-old Victoria entrepreneur has enjoyed a considerable amount through the decades, something was going on in LargeB次元官网网址檚 private moments, day by day, month by month, year by year.
He was writing poetry.
The product of that creative work, which drew on his life experiences, his observations and philosophies on life, emerged this fall in Living Large, a colourful coffee table book filled with broad inspirational messages.
The two-year book project not only features LargeB次元官网网址檚 poetry on a wide range of subjects, but each entry also includes an interpretation of the poem, a life lesson if you will.
B次元官网网址淭he thing with the book that made it unique was the little story underneath,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hat I was doing was I was really writing to my great-grandchildren, saying how do you deal with resentments, how do you deal with anxiety, how do you get courage and (deal with) fear?B次元官网网址�
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Large began journaling many years ago, recording his thoughts and ideas, writing out his goals and taking stock of his emotional, physical, spiritual and financial health along the way. He wrote them by hand in ledger-sized books B次元官网网址� not surprising as heB次元官网网址檚 a chartered accountant by trade.
He eventually began a new routine: including a monthly poem in his journal.
B次元官网网址淚 found that I had to take my mind off other things to concentrate on my little poem, so I kept working and I did one on the first day of the month for over 30 years,B次元官网网址� Large recalled in a recent interview in his Fairfield office.
A couple of years back he was thinking again about his poems and decided to send a random yearB次元官网网址檚 worth to two PhD poets he found on social media. Both encouraged him to put them in a book, he said.
B次元官网网址淭his was pretty personal stuff,B次元官网网址� he recalled of his writings, which to that point he hadnB次元官网网址檛 shown anyone else. B次元官网网址淚 was really frightened at one point, I didnB次元官网网址檛 want to do it.B次元官网网址� Then he said to himself, B次元官网网址楨arl, you talk about conquering fear, so just do it.B次元官网网址�
The initial idea was a small paperback, but he soon expanded his thinking. It went from a larger format paperback to a hardcover book.
The positive-thinking Large solicited original pieces from artists around the world to illustrate the book, and likewise, received dozens of written commendations. The book has not one, but five forewards, all of which give the reader the sense this is not your typical first book.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 actually been a great journey,B次元官网网址� he said of bringing the book to fruition.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a self-help book, itB次元官网网址檚 not an art book and itB次元官网网址檚 not a poetry book B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 a book of experience, of learning to live in one world. We all have things in life that are very difficult to overcome, thereB次元官网网址檚 addiction, thereB次元官网网址檚 heartbreak, thereB次元官网网址檚 separations, thereB次元官网网址檚 a gambit of emotions.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 already heard from numerous readers whoB次元官网网址檝e told him his words have resonated for them or brought back fond memories.
B次元官网网址淲hat really made me want to do it was I thought this could be helpful for my own family. So, expand that into a bigger family and the same principle applies.B次元官网网址�
Living Large is available on Amazon, but the author invites locals to stop by his office at 607 Vancouver St. where they can pick up a signed copy and perhaps chat with Large.
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