As the Year Turns

 A new year, another year, the future which will soon become the present, approaches.

Our thoughts invariably turn to ways in which we can improve: Our New Year’s Resolutions.

Just as invariably, we set goals, make promises, put our ambitions in writing, create word pictures of our dreams.

The result is, the experts say, a recipe for underachievement, if not downright failure.

Why do we do it, set ourselves up to be unsuccessful?

We don’t intend to make a lackluster attempt. We intend to improve. We intend to right the unsuccesses of the past. We intend to move forward—dragging our unfulfilled resolutions behind us, our baggage of misery.

What if we approached January 1^st with unresolving those burdens? What if we unresolved to dwell on the past, unresolved to remember our mistakes, unresolved to embrace what we dislike about ourselves?

We might start our Unresolutions with casting out all that has plagued us, kept us underwater, forced us to think less of ourselves.

We might then be better equipped to release the angels of inspiration, creativity, love, generosity, hope, thoughtfulness and faith. Especially, faith in ourselves to accomplish all that of which we have been created to be capable.

Very best and warmest wishes to all for AD2019.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

I’m writing this blog (which was supposed to have been posted several hours ago) on Christmas Eve.  As is often the case, I’m behind schedule on a number of fronts.  I’ve finished my shopping, but still need to wrap and this blog was pushed to the back of the line.

Lucky for me a blog at this time of the year practically writes itself.  As we approach the end of the year and the beginning of the next, most of us think about our resolutions or wishes for the future while looking back on the past year. 

I have a lot to be thankful for including a loving spouse, children and daughters-in-law happily connected to our family. We also have a precious new grandson and another due in April.  Our world may be in turmoil, but I have much to be grateful for.  

Most of us have been around long enough to know that all of that can change in the drop of an eye so my New Year’s resolution is to appreciate what I have and try not think about tomorrow and what might be coming. I’ve spent too much of my life thinking about what I need to do, making lists and going through them with almost total focus.  I did not always see the gifts and opportunities that are in front of me and I’m sure I lost some special moments.

My 9 month-old grandson was here in New York this week visiting from L.A.  I was fortunate to be able to spend quality hours with him every day while his mother worked.  A younger me would have fretted about what I was not getting done while I hung out with him at the children’s museum and the library.  An older me appreciates how fleeting these opportunities are.  I knew the blog and other writing tasks could wait—even until after the holidays.

That’s my new year’s resolution:  To prioritize my family and their needs recognizing that the writing will get done, but the family is what’s essential.

Happy Holidays to everyone!  

Time For A Change?

by Janis Susan May/Janis Patterson

New Year's is a natural time for new beginnings. I mean, who hasn't made a New Year's Resolution... or two or three... But don't worry. This isn't a post about how this is the year I'm resolving to make the NYT list, finally finish redecorating my office and get down to a size six. (Not that any or all of them wouldn't be nice, but... let's face it, I am a realist.)

No, after years of doing my Classic and Cozy blog on the first Thursday of the month, there has been a rescheduling and now my day is the first Monday. I'm grateful to still be a part of the Classic and Cozy family, and sometimes a little shakeup is a good thing.

So - mark your calendars (I've already marked mine) and be prepared for first Mondays from now on. At least, until the next rescheduling.

And now about new beginnings - while New Year's is a handy peg on which to hang changes and resolutions, it's not the only one. Every day is a new beginning. You can make resolutions about whatever you want on any day of the year. In my youth there used to be a poster which said "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" or something like that, and that's really true. Time is an ongoing circle, with one day following another. Weeks, months, days, years... those are man-made divisions.

So - I say any time of year, an day is a good day to follow your dream. Want to write a new kind of book? Or plan (or take!) a special trip? Or dye your hair? Or start a healthier eating plan? Or... whatever. Why wait for a certain day to do it? Now is what counts. Somewhere in an email I saw this wonderful phrase "There is no day called someday." I don't know who has it as part of their sig line - and I wish I did, because I would certainly give that very wise person credit!

My grandmother always used to say, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." I really kind of believe she meant it more in the sense of cleaning my room and getting chores done, but the wisdom holds true into following your dreams as well. Time will always pass. What you do with it is your choice.

Happy New Year, everyone! And - this year, may all your dreams come true.

Reflections

Recent posts on holiday lights brings to mind an item I read in the newspaper. At that time, I found the column amusing, but now I'm not so sure. The Christmas lights do add to the beauty of holiday decorations and displays. However, all the additional light and intense focus on holiday traditions doesn't always bring happy results.

Any smooth surface around these lights will give off reflections. There's no escape from the image of the gray haired woman staring back at you when you pass a store window or mirror. At first you think the image resembles your deceased mother. Perhaps you turn quickly to get a better glimpse of someone passing on the street behind you, but see no one familiar. You may dust a table or glance at a framed photo and see a reflection of the stranger again. She looks familiar, and yet she doesn't. But she is always there, peeping over your shoulder when you pass a light reflecting surface. When you can't find a favorite book or misplace your keys, you recall how your mother once did the same things.

The impression gets worse when you attempt to pass on family traditions.  Recipes can't be found, or attempts to cook your family favorites go awry. You're desperate to recreate memories from the past, yet your attempts fall short of your expectations.

All the while, that older woman appears behind you like a shadow, and you're certain she is always frowning. You're disappointed at what you consider your failure to rekindle traditions. Yet guests compliment your decorations. Others love the refreshments or ask your secret of creating such a wonderful holiday scent in your home.

But you can be certain not everyone likes the same thing, and that is true of writers and readers. Even the best of friends aren't going to like the same movies, music or books, and that is good news. Each person will notice something different. You may love the extra hint of sage in the holiday stuffing, while your family may love the moist/dry consistency. And you can bet that shadowy image is going to be there, and she will always forget some detail...

The good news is that all readers don't read your book to look for mistakes. Most people read purely for pleasure, and even that reflection in the mirror smiles some of the time.

Now...about those other reflections, the ones you assumed this post was about... Do you look back on the past year and make New Years' Resolutions?