One: A New Day
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It’s New Year’s Day, the one time of year where dramatically altering your personality isn’t cause for concern.
As I sit here, watching the chickadees and nuthatches flit through the snow-heavy branches, I wonder what goals I should set for 2019. I wonder if I’ll be better, make wiser choices, take larger leaps. I wonder if it will be better than last year.
And, all told, last year was a good one. I published my first book, my dream since I first stepped through a Platform called 9 ¾ and realized that magic is real. I started a new, challenging job and am truly, truly happy. It’s a warmth somewhere behind my heart, peaceful and quietly strong.
I love the New Year. It’s a time to make changes for the better, like spring cleaning after a long winter.
So, goals. Some are firm-set, things I can put on my calendar. I will finish writing my second book in January. I’ll design its cover while my beta readers are combing through it in February. In March, I’ve got a vacation planned with my closest lady friends. May-September are ear-marked for gardening, canoeing, hiking, camping, picnicking, fishing, golfing…I don’t want to waste a single free moment of summer.
I also want strawberry wine and fresh strawberries, long D&D sessions, quiet moments by the fire, and weeks on end where I rebuild my calluses and play my guitar.
And journal. I thought about this blog, about the last post I made a month ago, and wanted more. Then I saw a Facebook post that said that January 1st is the first page in a 365-page novel.
I thought, hey, I like novels.
So, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to write exactly one page a day, reflecting on whatever happened to come my way. And I’ll not always get it posted, but it will be written, it will be something I can touch and know. I’ll be able to look back and reflect next year, when I’m sitting somewhere, looking out my window, watching the world outside and wondering what I can do to make myself a better person.
All in all, I want to step into this year with power and poise and the firm knowledge that the world is a beautiful place, that people are fundamentally good, and if I put my mind to it, nothing is impossible.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m excited for 2019. Happy New Year, everyone!