Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
thresholds of sunrise and sunset as the bookends of life
English answer:
bookends means routines in this context
Added to glossary by
Clauwolf
Apr 29, 2023 17:30
1 yr ago
47 viewers *
English term
thresholds of sunrise and sunset as the bookends of life
English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dear colleagues,
I’m not sure about the meaning of the sentence “to honor the thresholds of sunrise and sunset as the bookends of a precious life” taken from the passage below included in the Acknowedgements section of a book.
I’ve asked a question to my Italian colleagues, but there seems to be two distinct interpretations: some say that “bookends” might mean the beginning and end of life; others suppose it might refer to the beginning and end of each day of our life.
My doubt about the former interpretation (birth and death) derives from the use of the verb “honor”: why honor the death, also? A possible explanation is that John O’Donohue was also a Catholic priest: so maybe, death in Catholicism is not the end of everything and you can honor it, too, but I’m not sure this would be the right interpretation.
Thank you so much for your help and patience!
*****************************
At home, as well as at work, my wife is a constant reminder by example of how to live fully in the present moment and to consider each day, as our dear family friend, poet, and philosopher John O’Donohue would say, as a mystical gift – *** to honor the thresholds of sunrise and sunset as the bookends of a precious life *** for which we can be deeply grateful.
I’m not sure about the meaning of the sentence “to honor the thresholds of sunrise and sunset as the bookends of a precious life” taken from the passage below included in the Acknowedgements section of a book.
I’ve asked a question to my Italian colleagues, but there seems to be two distinct interpretations: some say that “bookends” might mean the beginning and end of life; others suppose it might refer to the beginning and end of each day of our life.
My doubt about the former interpretation (birth and death) derives from the use of the verb “honor”: why honor the death, also? A possible explanation is that John O’Donohue was also a Catholic priest: so maybe, death in Catholicism is not the end of everything and you can honor it, too, but I’m not sure this would be the right interpretation.
Thank you so much for your help and patience!
*****************************
At home, as well as at work, my wife is a constant reminder by example of how to live fully in the present moment and to consider each day, as our dear family friend, poet, and philosopher John O’Donohue would say, as a mystical gift – *** to honor the thresholds of sunrise and sunset as the bookends of a precious life *** for which we can be deeply grateful.
Responses
3 -1 | bookends means routines in this context | Clauwolf |
4 +3 | The cycle of life | Mihaela C N Plamadeala |
Change log
May 4, 2023 17:14: Clauwolf Created KOG entry
Responses
-1
19 hrs
Selected
bookends means routines in this context
:)
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Note added at 1 day 4 mins (2023-04-30 17:35:09 GMT)
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Yes, I see a comparison between sunrise and sunset (a routine) with the routines (bookends) of life
Have a nice Sunday!
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Note added at 1 day 8 mins (2023-04-30 17:39:04 GMT)
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"Creating bookends in life means establishing a routine that creates a buffer on each side of your day – morning and evening."
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Note added at 1 day 10 mins (2023-04-30 17:40:32 GMT)
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Please see in "Signature leaders":
https://signatureleaders.com/bookends-can-hold-your-life-tog...
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Note added at 1 day 4 mins (2023-04-30 17:35:09 GMT)
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Yes, I see a comparison between sunrise and sunset (a routine) with the routines (bookends) of life
Have a nice Sunday!
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Note added at 1 day 8 mins (2023-04-30 17:39:04 GMT)
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"Creating bookends in life means establishing a routine that creates a buffer on each side of your day – morning and evening."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 10 mins (2023-04-30 17:40:32 GMT)
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Please see in "Signature leaders":
https://signatureleaders.com/bookends-can-hold-your-life-tog...
Note from asker:
Thank you very much, Clauwolf, for your contribution! May I ask how you intend "routines", perhaps in the sense of something - sunrise and sunset - happening each day of our life? Have a nice evening! |
Thank you so much, Clauwolf, for these references! have a good day" |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much, Clauwolf, for your help! Many sincere thanks also to all other colleagues!"
+3
28 mins
The cycle of life
My opinion: birth and death are the bookends of life, they are co-dependent. Life is what happens in between. You honor your life, thus both birth and death. Death is not the end but also a beginning from a religious point of view.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much, Mihaela, for your contribution! |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: Yes, it clearly says "bookends of life" so not a day IMHO
58 mins
|
agree |
Anastasia Kalantzi
1 hr
|
agree |
Thayenga
1 day 14 hrs
|
Discussion
Actually I think that in my context, a more general interpretation than "birth and death" may be appropriate... because just before the text says: "to live fully in the present moment and to consider each day as a mystical gift"
Probably in other contexts "birth and death" may be right, but in this case I prefer to leave it "more general" and I'll write something along the lines of "thresholds of sunrise and sunset that frame a precious life"... withouth saying beginning and end..
that's why I choose Clauwolf's answer...
So maybe "sunrise and sunset" might refer also to the beginning and end of each day of our life...
Many thanks again!
A life only has two 'bookends'.