Friday, January 01, 2016

January First. Journal Jotting

Amanda Kerr/unsplash.com


Happy New Year, Beautiful Friends!

The first day of this new year is almost done. It was spent relaxing and being quiet. Reading. Journaling. Writing. Nibbling leftovers.

Not to mention jotting down a few of my own thoughts as I anticipate the possibilities of the next 365 brand new days waiting for me to live. I also wrote down some lines I found by Neil Gaiman -- words he once penned as a new year's wish to his readers -- as they caught my own imagination. Decided to share as you might enjoy them too.



"Be kind to yourself in the year ahead.

Remember to forgive yourself, and to forgive others. It's too easy to be outraged these days, so much harder to change things, to reach out, to understand.

Try to make your time matter: minutes and hours and days and weeks can blow away like dead leaves, with nothing to show but time you spent not quite ever doing things, or time you spent waiting to begin.

Meet new people and talk to them. Make new things and show them to people who might enjoy them.

Hug too much. Smile too much. And, when you can, love."  ~ Neil Gaiman




I especially noted that line about it being too easy to be outraged these days by the actions and attitudes of others. Oh yes, I catch myself doing that, but that's not how I want to live out my wild, precious life in 2016. Do you? Walking around being outraged at people -- where's the kindness or love in that? How does that does help me or anyone else?

And I recognize myself in that line where he says how we can spend time not quite ever doing things. Been there too. Waiting for a better time, or permission, or always preparing or organizing but never quite getting to the real job at hand. There are times when I'm better at it, but I'd like to be less diddly with my time and more aware of what I'm doing with it. ... Not to be militant about it, but to do the things I need to when I need to, so that I can then enjoy doing those things I want to when I want to.

The other beautiful line that I love is Mr. Gaiman's encouragement for us to make new things and then show them to someone who might enjoy them. I love that! Which of course reminds me of Susan Branch who tells her readers she is always on the lookout for treats she thinks will tickle her 'girlfriends'. No wonder we love her. Something I like to remember for myself when I come to post here on my blog. Asking myself what I might share that would be like a little present ... a little treat you might enjoy. For sure, it's something I'd like to pay more attention to this coming year.

So, there it is ... a little of my first day musings. Now I ask you:  have you been musing anything interesting about your own new year desires?

Here's wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places,
With hugs,
Brenda
xox



  
Be kind to yourself in the year ahead.

Be kind to yourself in the year ahead. 

Remember to forgive yourself, and to forgive others. It's too easy to be outraged these days, so much harder to change things, to reach out, to understand.

Try to make your time matter: minutes and hours and days and weeks can blow away like dead leaves, with nothing to show but time you spent not quite ever doing things, or time you spent waiting to begin.

Meet new people and talk to them. Make new things and show them to people who might enjoy them. 

Hug too much. Smile too much. And, when you can, love.
- See more at: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2014/12/new-years-wishes-and-gifts.html#sthash.5ZGyt8Tl.dpuf

Be kind to yourself in the year ahead. 

Remember to forgive yourself, and to forgive others. It's too easy to be outraged these days, so much harder to change things, to reach out, to understand.

Try to make your time matter: minutes and hours and days and weeks can blow away like dead leaves, with nothing to show but time you spent not quite ever doing things, or time you spent waiting to begin.

Meet new people and talk to them. Make new things and show them to people who might enjoy them. 

Hug too much. Smile too much. And, when you can, love.
- See more at: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2014/12/new-years-wishes-and-gifts.html#sthash.5ZGyt8Tl.dpuf

Be kind to yourself in the year ahead. 

Remember to forgive yourself, and to forgive others. It's too easy to be outraged these days, so much harder to change things, to reach out, to understand.

Try to make your time matter: minutes and hours and days and weeks can blow away like dead leaves, with nothing to show but time you spent not quite ever doing things, or time you spent waiting to begin.

Meet new people and talk to them. Make new things and show them to people who might enjoy them. 

Hug too much. Smile too much. And, when you can, love.
- See more at: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2014/12/new-years-wishes-and-gifts.html#sthash.5ZGyt8Tl.dpuf

15 comments:

  1. I tend to procrastinate about doing things, there's always another day etc. This year I must do better!

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  2. Happy New Year, Brenda! Those were excellent words to pass on....I copied the one about time into my journal this morning! I feel a fresh impulse and determination to make 2016 count. Yes, I do!

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  3. It is so easy to be grated or annoyed by people, but no it is not how I want to live my precious life either!
    Such wonderful, inspirational thoughts to start my day. Happy New Year, Brenda.

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  4. Each is a good caution, and the flip side of all of them (except the last one!) needs to be considered too. May we live in a good balance day to day.

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  5. All good advice, yes, I must try to meet new people...I'm off to a good start as we are having our next door neighbours round tonight for the first time...I will give them a light hug! But not scare them off!!!
    Bless you with your good thoughts, I read and mused on them all.
    X

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  6. Good thoughts to start the year with. Happy New Year! xx

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  7. good thoughts, although sometimes we just need to relax and do nothing until we are ready to do it....there is time for nothing and it can lead to more energy when we get ready to finally go forward....nothing is wasted.

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  8. Dear Brenda - loved this post. Like you I often put off what is meaningful to do - waiting for a better time. There is much wisdom to take from these words and thoughts. By the way every time I stop here to visit I do receive a wonderful present. Thanks for bringing sunshine in each and every post. Hugs!

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  9. Brenda, you're my kind of people. Sounds exactly like how I spent New Year's -- always with a book and a journal and a pencil, thinking and dreaming and planning. I would like to learn how to "waste" time the right way -- so much of it I fritter away (real waste) and other times I don't "waste" it like I should (dreaming and praying). I love to come by your lovely blog, and look forward to many visits in 2016. Blessings, xo Deborah

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  10. How fun that we both included a Neil Gaiman quotation for our New Year! He has some great ones. I spent time with my journal last night, too, musing and pondering with pen in hand. The very best way to think!

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  11. You are the Queen of beautiful quotes and you gladly share them with us. That is such a "treat".
    Ahh, the new year holds so much for all of us. Thank you for opening up to us.

    You have been one of the first people to comment on my blog, starting way back in 2009! For two people blogging, that is a long time! Not to mention, ALL the other ways you have helped me!!
    Thank you my friend!

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  12. A wonderful list on improving how you live this year Brenda! Happy New Year :)
    Wendy

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  13. I've missed stopping by, and so glad I did. I love your list, and I'm with you on each count!

    Hugs!

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  14. Beautiful and thought provoking, and words to take to heart.

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  15. You've inspired me to start journaling again, Brenda. I will also strive to follow Neil Gaiman's words in 2016. Thank you for sharing!

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo