Friday, January 1, 2021

Happy New Year! and Some Un-resolutions for Joyful Living

 


Happy New Year! For those unfamiliar with northern winter climates, I'll tell you that the image above is snow. This snow is not new, yet has no tracks or marks on it, and it serves as an analogy for the new year. This snow fell last year and remains, just as parts of 2020 remain with us into 2021. But what remains has not marked this snow. Here it is, crisp and untouched. What can we make of it? It's ours to decide. What can we make of our new year? At the end of 2021, will we be glad of the tracks we've made? 

A new year presents challenges and responsibilities. A turn of a calendar page is not magic. I'm sure I'm not alone in making and breaking resolutions year after year. This year, I realized that the things I usually resolved to do felt more like punishment. So I'm going to make some un-resolutions that I can actually keep that will increase my joy. My list is in progress and subject to change, but here are a few items:

Eat a bite of chocolate every day.

Listen more to music.

Read more, generally, and read more poetry, specifically.

Look at--really look at--works of art.

No, these are not SMART goals. These are just life-enriching things that often get pushed aside in daily busyness. How will you add more joy this year? What tracks will you leave in 2021?

"...Lift up your hearts.
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings...." is from the incredible poem by Maya Angelou,"On The Pulse of Morning," written for and delivered at President Clinton's inauguration in 1993. Here is the entire poem: 




14 comments:

  1. Your photo looks like granular snow, maybe almost hail. I read once that the Eskimo have like 65 words for snow. I once brainstormed words for precipitate with 5th graders, fun and amazing. Then there's my granddaughter singing Rudolph: Then one FROGGY Christmas Eve.....we dont correct her. Last year it was in Deck the Halls, I think. I have to try to find the lyric she "approximated". Are you getting to see your girls? Janet Clare F.
    I have loved seeing the beauty you have shared. Stay well, dear Jane. Yes to some chocolate. At my age, I am trying to do what pleases me most, more often. I just ordered a Julie Andrews anthology from 2004. I saw Michele Kruger's poem on fb and asked where to find it. Poetry consoles, delights, enriches and often heals. Have a blessed New Year!

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    1. Cute the things kids come up with! Amen to poetry, and blessings on your new year as well.

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  2. P.S. Are you working these days?

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  3. Love this list. Happy New Year, Jane!

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    1. Thanks, Mary! Hope the new year brings you good things!

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  5. I missed this until I saw on FB. I have loved your 'dailies' but if it's time for you to do other things, like your 'un-resolutions', enjoy them thoroughly! Happy New Year, again! May we get through this week!

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    1. Boy, howdy, Linda, may we get through this week and the next and the next...! Here's to the promise of a new year for all of us!

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