I love the arrival of the New Year. Hokey as it sounds, this seeming ordinary day has always brought me the hope of a clean slate, the chance to once again learn, improve, and refocus my life.
I spend a lot of time during the last week of December contemplating what I want the next year to be like. I don't really set New Year's resolutions. I've broken too many of them in the past. (Like the 10 pounds I needed to lose that has slowly turned into a number I'm not going to admit to anyone!) Instead, a recurrent concern that needs attention will come to mind with a clear certainty. Many times there is an overall theme that touches several areas of my life like reconciliations, healing, balance, or spiritual renewal. And, oddly enough, I'll see that same theme reveal itself over and over again throughout the coming year.
The same is true of my writing. I have the priviledge of beginning a new book this January. A new beginning, blank pages to fill with dreams and people dear to me. The chance to learn more about my chosen craft and myself as a writer.
All of my stories, long and short, have had a theme running through them. Most often it is a variation on women coming into their own power and self-worth. This strand of theme draws me through the pages, popping up in unexpected places, just like my own life theme of the moment. Isn't it interesting the way writing often mirrors the writing life?
So many times we look at those blank pages as a chore, work that needs to be done. It is, but they can also be the opportunity to explore our own life themes and pass that little bit of knowledge on to someone else. Cool, huh?
So here's to new beginnings! May you move into this exciting new year with purpose, lots of pristine white pages, and words burning to get out. Happy Writing!
Angel
3 comments:
For a long, long time, New Year's Day brought nothing but sadness for me, for you see, my father died very suddenly on January 1, 1970. It was many years before I could look at New Year's Day as a new beginning rather than a very sad ending. I think of my dad on New Year's, but now I'm able to remember the happy times and all the fun things we did together. But I'm sure that somewhere deep down inside, this is the reason that I dislike making resolutions.
2005 was a big year for our family, and 2006 has a lot of big things in store too -- #2 son graduates from college in May, #1 son and his wife are expecting a baby in June and I turn 55 in April (and therefore qualify for the discounts at Ross and Goody's *g* ).
Let's hope it has lots of other good things in store as well.
A discount at Ross?? Come April, you're my new shopping buddy!
As for resolutions, I rarely keep them, but I always like to make some to start out and give my year a boost and some hope to pull me out of the post holiday funk. I refuse to resolve to lose weight or exercise more, because I'm setting myself up to fail. In the past I've dabbled with flossing (lasted about 5 months) and other equally silly choices. Last year, I resolved to take care of ME. This was vague enough that I could use it to get a massage or a pedicure, work out more, give myself time to write or scrapbook. I think I actually did pretty well with it. Still don't know about this year.
SP
We'll only be shopping buddies on Tuesdays. **gg** That's the only day they give the discount.
Post a Comment