Dear Blank Slate subscribers and guests, greetings of the new year to you. And thanks for signing on. There are some 75 of you at this moment, and you can consider yourselves from here on as “signature members.” We’re friends, for sure, and will become more so. If nothing else, you’ll be providing for me a sense that I’m not writing into space, but in fact there are readers out there, thinkers and fellow travelers. Of course, any response will always be welcome.
So here we go.
It’s January 1, the traditional day of new resolves, that is if we didn’t know ourselves too well. Still, it is a day of new hope, and why not give ourselves another chance, and the new year a chance to see what it can do for us, or us for it. If our resolves don’t last, well maybe even a short-lived effort is better than none at all.
But before jumping in with wild abandon like a kid from the high board, eyes closed, pinching nose, I’m remembering I must have done this last year. Did it make a splash? Did anyone notice? Or did I just end up with earaches, like me at age seven and eight after summers at the municipal pool in Milwaukee?
I check and sure enough find a file called “Jan. 2011—Looking back, Looking forward” dutifully done this time last year. I find recounted a few reflections on the year before and then some aspirations for the new. I went with my surname as a guide.
Here’s the list:
More heart, more spirit, more focus, more verve
More laugher, more hope, more living in the moment
More giving, more loving, more water-spread bread
More prayers, more hearing, more keeping lines open
More sowing, more growing, more living to the full.
Basically more of all that matters, living up to the name.
There it is, a little soliloquy authored by me, addressed to me. I remember writing it now. I don’t remember doing it. At least not more. But then, that’s the trouble with that word: It’s open ended.
In any case, I think I’ll hit it again. I’ll toss the same ball in the air and take another swing. We may be the only ones in this game, playing against ourselves. But still, it’s no fun hitting dribbles; better to try hitting it out of the park.
Write your own list. Or use mine. Paste it on your refrigerator, or your mirror, or your door to the outside world. If the resolves only last a week, it’ll still be a better week. And if some of them stick for a year, it’ll be a better year. It’ll be a HAPPY new year, indeed.
Next: Some things we want less of, coming Wednesday.
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Our Lives Together
Its About Life
1:37 pm
Hyatt, this is a wonderful beginning for the new year before us. Its pretty hard to beat that list from last year, but we’ll do our best! Anticipating great things from our great God and Lord in 2012!
5:02 pm
Hyatt, you are an inspiration to be sure. I love that word “verve” (even looked it up, just for clarity- I like that it’s addressed especially towards writers and artists.)
I enjoy your writing style. Definitely looking towards “more” writing from you!
Many blessings and a very happy new year to you and Ann.
-Lynn
6:16 pm
Thanks for a great start, Hyatt. You did add to the vision and dreams of our granddaughter, although just a brief encounter.
Thank you for sharing your life with the world. (I guess that would be something I would aim for this year . . . share more of myself and the life-giving Word with the world.)
Blessings for 2012 to you and Anne
6:18 pm
Love the list, Hyatt! Each thought is like a different shade of color to a painting. I can choose to begin the new year with black and white, or, like the Lampels, splash a bit of grateful, anticipating attitude into the mix. If I embrace each day as a gift and stay heaven-minded, all that comes my way I know is working for good. So, 2012, bring it on!
5:40 am
My resolution came yesterday to me but was penned long before I was awake. In the words of Augustine: “People are not known for what they know or what they achieve but they are known for what they love.” May it be so.
8:25 pm
I vow to do more or less of this and that all the time, but I haven’t made resolutions of the New Year’s type for years, it seems. And then this year I did. And right there in your second paragraph is why: If our resolves don’t last, well maybe even a short-lived effort is better than none at all.
It’s Day 2 and I’m still winning the game. Praise God.
Your musings always produce a smile – if not a joyful noise – along with much sincere appreciation for your spirit. Looking forward to Wednesday…
4:53 pm
Hyatt…….Beautifully written prose evolving from your artistic thoughts. You are SO amazing. “Creative” is you in a single word. Thank you for providing Blank Slate to those of us who are inspired by your paintings and now your words!
9:33 pm
Hyatt, you got my grin going right away with your simple “2-OH-1-2” which simply yet eloquently reminded me that “less” is quite often…”more” profound (or would that be “Moore” – *wink*). My grin turned into chuckles as the truths just kept flowing line after line. It’s how you roll. And it’s delightful. Thank you for determining to exercise yourself this way in body, soul (mind, will, emotions) and spirit, because I believe those sparks of creativity will end of igniting quite an amazing blaze.