Morning Over The River, 12/08Just had a phone call from my daughter. We talked about her intentions for the New Year. I had to admit that I really hadn't thought much about it, but then on second thought I realized that isn't quite true. I have never been a New Years kind of person, making resolutions and coming up with a list of intentions for the next 12 months. Instead, I seem to do it as the days unfold.
I remember one November about 30 years ago, when I realized that I was smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day and that if I didn't quit, it would kill me. So I told myself I'd quit for the New Year. I set about enjoying every last inhalation of acrid smoke that then made me cough like crazy. I had quit many times before only to start again when some stressful situation made me go out and buy another pack or beg one from a friend.
But this time something different happened. An argument started in my head about why wait till January 1st. If I was really going to quit, it had to be today, right now, no excuses, just shut up and do it. It went on for 2 or 3 days and then I started one of longest, most difficult times in my life. I threw a whole carton of cigarettes in the trash and dove in, never to look back. My husband and kids will tell you to this day, that I was not a pleasant person to be around for a long time. But I did it, they were supportive and from that day forward, I haven't made resolutions for the New Year. I make resolutions when I make them and that's that. It seems to be the only way it works for me.
So my intentions for the next couple of months are to file the stacks of papers that are gathering dust all over my studio/office. I will also clean out the store room and get rid of all of the things I always thought I needed but haven't ever used. I will try to live a much more simplified life, be more frugal, not buy as many books and go to the library instead. And I will continue my herb studies as I have been. Not a bad start I guess. There is so much more to do but then these are the big items.
Hope you all have a wonderful celebration over the next day and may your intentions be abundant and successful!!
If you want to know about my herb studies go here!
4 comments:
I'm like you about resolutions! Good for you on quitting smoking. I remember my father quitting without a word to us after one of his brothers died. Only many days later Mom and I noticed but never did Dad want to talk about it. And he never went back to smoking. Anyway, may the new year be abundant in your herbal, garden and other projects!
I like to have a word or theme for the new year but, like you, when something presents itself as needing to be done or started or whatever, it is best if I take the task in hand and do it at once rather than waiting. Why not?
Wishing you all the best in the new year.
Resolutions never work for me either. It's far better to just do a thing when it's time rather than waiting for a date. And besides, something that gets me all fired up with a fresh slate rarely lasts long.
Nevertheless, my list of intentions is remarkably like yours. So much to do, a whole new year in which to do it all.
Good luck with them anyway, and a very happy New Year to you and yours!
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