These are the utterances of a writer’s brain, my brain, put down simply to capture them, perhaps temporarily. While brushing my teeth tonight, I thought about what I would like to accomplish this coming year—2024. It’s probably much more than I’ll have the commitment to do, but, you know, it’s the nature of resolutions.
I have a Spanish language course I would like to use to it’s potential, instead of only the first eight lessons. Yes, I would like to learn to understand and speak more Spanish in the coming year. The same is true for a Tai Chi video course which I was very excited to get and I’ve had for several months, now, but which has languished in our DVD collection unused because as soon as I put it in the player the first time, our sound system failed and it was months before we replaced it and by then I had lost the excitement that was there before.
What else do I wish to do in 2024? Oh yes, I want to paint several small paintings in oil and develop some skill with the medium. I will paint still lifes—fruit and vegetables, simple compositions—and work realistically. At least that’s the plan. And I want to expand my repertoire of cooking to become competent with braising. I want to make simple, lovely meals in one pot. I want to get really good at that so that I can work for an hour or less cutting vegetables and preparing the pot then allow it to simmer until the house fills with the glorious fragrance of food and calls us to supper. My order of a Dutch oven and a cookbook to that end came today.
And I also want to finish my second novel and publish it in print in about a year. I’m more than half way along on that goal but there’s still a good deal of story development yet to be done in order to reach it. And I want to find more readers for this blog; it’s probably the only way I can build an audience for my work. So this becomes a second writing project—to post something here on this blog every day—and the only thing I can think of to do— Is record the fragments of thought, rolling randomly around in my head. But why anyone would want to read them, I have no idea. Perhaps, simply because they once belonged to another human brain and—they are familiar, in some way, to the reader.
Best wishes to you in your accomplishing these worthy goals. I’m a little different in this regard having grown up in a Christian environment. My dad would have added to your resolutions this phrase: “God willing.” Whereas we have the best of intentions and goals before us, our times are in His hands. So… God willing, to your desires for 2024.
Yes, you are correct “…our times are in His hands”. My pastor father used to say (somewhat in fun): “God willing and the devil don’t hinder”. But, certainly, all is in God’s hands; and I have learned that intentions are important for beginning things; but completing them always depends on what happens in between which, again, only God knows. Thank you for your comment, my friend, and your blessing. May God bless you also in this coming year, and may you enjoy Peace throughout this glorious Christmas season and beyond.
Thank you, Dale, and our Lord’s blessings rest upon you and your loved ones as well. I spoke long distance with my 89 year old sister yesterday (we catch up weekly) and she is doing well having just returned from a bus venture to see Fiddler on the Roof. My wife and I are both beyond our three score and ten and in good health as well. Truly, the Lord has undeservedly blessed this sinful man beyond measure. 🙂
Thank you. Good evening to you and yours.
Sorry for the rather abbreviated response earlier; I was in a hurry to write another post in the time I had; so did not give your comment the response it deserved. But I am always very grateful for comments when I get them. I’ve enjoyed yours very much.
Regarding age, I’m no spring chicken myself, as the saying goes. But I must admit that I am enjoying my maturity. There’s a freedom in it, don’t you think? And now I feel more like an observer—a watcher, if you will—where life is not so much the struggle it once was, but more of a ride and a good ride at that. You and your sister are fortunate to have each other to share stories with, both new and old.
And, Friend, God has been merciful to us all; I too feel abundantly blessed—beyond measure.
Wonderful resolutions Dale. I hope you accomplish them all. And it would definitely love to read the daily writer’s log. Immensely inspirational to a fellow writer 🙂
It’s good to know that, as a writer, you would find my meandering thoughts interesting.
I would*
Good luck with all of that, Dale! I must give some thought to next year’s targets too.
Right now my focus is my health – I lived with prostate cancer most of this year, and that affected everything! I’ve had the surgery now, my doctors tell me it was a complete success, so once the New Year comes my body should be healed enough for me to start re-building my fitness (brain and brawn).
I can’t wait.
I’m so glad the result of your surgery was a complete success. May your recovery be rapid and full. If you are like me, though, you probably don’t wait until the New Year to reassess your plans and set a new direction for the months ahead. It’s always a constant process of looking again at the compass and figuring out which way is North or West or whatever.
With the success of your surgery, I hope more than anything, Bob, you experience a sense of liberty and joy. If you don’t mind me doing so, I will pray for that.
Thanks, Dale, I appreciate your comment and your prayers!
This entire cancer episode, and losing my elder sister in October, have inevitably changed my attitude to life.. I’m making plans for sure, but as far is possible putting myself and my needs closer to the top of the list. Life is a transient thing, and precious, in a way I appreciate more these days.
Sometime between now and New Years Eve I will blogging here in more detail, I think, sharing my thoughts and perhaps wisdom and my hopes and dreams for next year. Watch this space! :-))
I look forward to your upcoming blogs. Many years ago, I realized that the things I really wanted to do always landed somewhere close to the bottom of my “To Do List”. Thus, it turned out I never found time for the things I really wanted to do because of all the “must do” things that preceded them. I finally decided that if I was ever going to do anything that was important to me I was going to have to place it at the top of the list. I’ve tried to do this as much as possible and it has helped me to finish my novel, among a few other things. I’m sure you are already well aware of this common dilemma. I only mention it to say: I understand fully what you mean.
I’ll be watching this space as you have suggested.