The Art of the Possible
I have compiled the results of my stealthy, unscientific survey of our blogging community’s New Year’s Resolutions. No one will be surprised by these results:
- 1% make resolutions and have a track record of keeping them
- 1% don’t make resolutions and feel no guilt
The other 98%:
- Make resolutions and expect to keep them (only to be sadly disappointed when next December comes into view)
- Don’t make resolutions and feel like guilty slackers
- Relist the same resolutions from the past three years, hoping THIS will be ‘the year’
- Make resolutions and immediately explain why they won’t be able to keep them
- Make resolutions and cross their fingers, wishing for a miracle
Why is this annual ritual such an uncomfortable process for many of us? The common denominator? Resolutions = Improvement, as in “You need to do better!”.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Think about it … December – the month when we eat too much; drink too much; stay up too late; don’t get enough exercise; and spend too much money … that’s the month we ponder the coming year.
Is it any wonder our recourse is a list of vows to ‘do better’ in the New Year?
I write this post somewhat facetiously because New Year’s Resolutions are such a time-honored tradition, and many people take them seriously.
For me, they’ve always been one of many stressors that make December a difficult month. I never made resolutions, but I carried the nagging guilt of not doing so. A couple years ago, I ‘consciously uncoupled’ from my guilt. Doing so freed me to look at the New Year in a whole new light. Not overshadowed by ‘do better’, I could envision activities, studies and pursuits which open windows on parts of myself I’ve never explored.
This New Year’s ‘Envisions’ include:
- Music and Keyboard
- Mapping and Footsteps
- Urban Sketching and Watercolors
- Word Origins – a self study by Great Courses
- Writing Craft and Practice
The ‘Envisions’ are primarily new uncharted pursuits – even writing is largely uncharted because I’ve barely scratched the surface. My desire to pursue these interests is triggered by connections to my writing – either because of inner links I’m uncovering beyond creating words or from sparks that fly when a particular blogsite piques my curiosity.
I will write about each as I dip my toes; it helps me understand my interest as well as co-ordinate my approach to learning, experimenting and practicing. I have no expectations that I will master any of them; only that I want to explore and appreciate what is possible.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to subject you to a slew of neophyte etchings or miscued keyboard recitals.
Maybe a few …
Photo Credit: penguingiftshop.com
C’mon!
The alternative could have been me droning on for the next twelve months about improving my diet!
Wow, the WordPress gremlins attacked me today! First arbitrarily shutting off comments, then messing with the format of my already-published post. Grrrrr!!
bemuzin 