flight 2021
begins its assent
life’s one-way run
Jet 2021
Tag: New year
That Beautiful Blank Page!
All set for my response to the latest writing prompts:
Ragtag Daily Prompt … FRESH
Word of the Day Challenge … RESOLUTION
Fandango’s One-Word Challenge … ADORN
Your Daily Word Challenge … RENEW
Doesn’t everybody love New Year’s Day? That sense of leaving the past behind — especially past failings — and starting fresh. The blank sheet on which we hope to write this year’s goals –and later adorn the list with check marks for “DONE.”
Be more patient. Reconnect with someone. Lose weight. Be more faithful in posting on the blog. Paint that picture. Finish that book. Renew memberships. De-clutter the house. What are your goals for 2021?
Last week I announced one of my goals: having scrolled through my Amazon account and seeing all the books I either haven’t read yet or read and forgotten, without adding stars or writing a review, I’ve resolved to go through the list and deal with each one before I BUY ONE MORE BOOK. I’m happy to report that I’ve read one and almost finished the second. I deleted the first; it was 3-star Okay, but I’ll never read it again so why let it clutter up my e-reader.
Another goal I’ve been working at: go through my e-mails, check out the ones I haven’t yet opened and delete last year’s unimportant e-mails.
Last night I contemplated giving my blog a fresh new look, so I checked out the themes offered by WordPress. But when all was said and done, I decided to keep the one I have for the time being. Some wise soul once said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I’ll go with that. I’ll rather adorn my blog with a new Home Page, header and background color.
Although I’ve already erred by leaving a rather political comment on Mr Bump’s blog this morning, I’ve resolved to avoid political discussions and not offer my two-cents’ worth re: same. There are lots of positive things to write about. Politically, the world is going to wrack and to ruin. Do I need to say more on that subject? 😉
Yes, I have a book I want to finish — several, in fact. And ones I want to write. Will this be the year? There’s also my tub of miscellaneous scribblings waiting to be keyed into computer files. And sewing projects to finish.
One of my biggest dreams is to paint. I’ll never do anything beautiful, but even if I can squeeze some paint onto a canvas and swirl it around to resemble some abstract sort of flowers, I’ll be happy. In 2019 I bought a couple of canvases and acrylic paints — but painting didn’t happen. Will this be the year, or will there always be too many other things more pressing?
I’d better quit… My blank page is getting full! Let’s see what all I get checked off in the coming twelve months. 🙂
Beware the Time Thief!
I saw the old thief, Father Time, Come hirpling down the road; He had a sack upon his back, Lost minutes were his load. He opened it and showed to me Not minutes, but a host Of years, decades, a century And more of minutes lost. "I want to buy year," I said, "And I shall pay you well." "If this earth's mould were finest gold, To you I would not sell, For I have minutes stolen from kings, From Milton, Shakespeare, Bach. How could you buy such precious things? Your common gold is trash!"… He tied his sack and said, "Farewell. Young man, I've got my fee," For, while I tried to make him sell, He stole an hour from me! -- Harvey Scott
How many moments will old Father Time
try to steal from you and me in 2021?
Looking Forward
I’ve published this verse before, but it’s one of my favorites when thinking of the New Year. this time I downloaded an image from Pixabay and did a little artwork. 🙂
LOOKING FORWARD
I’ve shut the door on Yesterday,
Its sorrows and mistakes;
I’ve locked within its gloomy walls
Past failures and heartaches.
And now I throw the key away
To seek another room,
And furnish it with hope and smiles,
And every springtime bloom.
No thought shall enter this abode
That has a hint of pain,
And every malice and distrust
Shall never therein reign.
I’ll shut the door on Yesterday,
And throw the key away—-
Tomorrow holds no doubt for me,
Since I have found Today.
Happy New Year
A good New Year’s Resolution:
No grumbling, no sulking, no feuding, no fighting,
But looking and planning for things to delight in!
No hating the state of the world every minute,
But seeking and finding the beauty that’s in it.
No worrying, letting your troubles confound you,
But laughing and liking the people around you!
Tempted but Resolved
Fandango’s One-word Challenge this morning: TEMPTATION
Merriam-Webster says: tempt implies the presenting of an attraction so strong that it overcomes the restraints of conscience or better judgment.
This word automatically brings to mind the Bible verse:
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7
You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to understand that thought. Should some temptation sidle up beside you, if you turn your face resolutely and head in the opposite direction, you will much more easily overcome the thing than if you look its way — even if you’re arguing with it.
In another sense, temptation is like that proverbial rat the dog played with, then buried, but he left the tail hanging out “just in case.”
Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of temptation:
the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.
We do occasionally use the word TEMPTATION in the less menacing sense. We feel a desire to do something, though there’s some question involved. As we face the New Year, the clean page, the sense of starting-over, a lot of us are tempted to make New Year’s Resolutions. I have.
Is this wise? Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you keep them? Would you advise a friend to make one, or to abandon the idea?
To be on the safe side, my resolutions are a January-only thing. I’m hoping once started I’ll develop enough momentum to carry them on from there. But for the month of January I’m resolved to:
—spend more time in the quest for physical fitness. (Read: diet and exercise!)
My arthritis is getting me down and I’m resolved to start fighting back
—deal with sewing projects that have lingered in the spare room closet too long
—post a haiku a day on my other blog, Tree Top Haiku
O-E-D defines RESOLVED as firmly determined to do something.
As I understand it, the success of a New Year’s resolution depends very little on the project contemplated, and almost entirely on the resolve of the individual. I know from past experience that the temptation to do something else will certainly come along and crook an inviting finger, just to test the strength of my resolve.
Which reminds me of a quote I just read yesterday: 🙂
Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.
—Robert Benchley
Christine's Collection 