Friday, January 7, 2011

Revival

Oh lands, it's been nearly a month and not a stray word to be found around here.
Time passing has been like the wind through an open window, ruffling blank pages of a book.

obviously this calls for another Alessandro Gottardo illustration

I can't write when I'm not inspired. It's been a dry season. December was a box stuffed full of adventures but chronicling them by force of habit would have been as dull as reading a travel brochure.

But here I am, blowing the dust off the keys to prove there's still life in this pocket of the internet.

What have we missed? Paris. Merry Christmas. Italy. Happy New Year. Castles. Bears. Hindu spiritual guides.
Tales for another time.

For now, before the shiny newness of another year fades into February, we must list aims and hopes for 2011:

I try not to put too much emphasis on resolutions, because too often we set ourselves up to fail.  Tackling all your faults on the first of January is putting too much on your plate. Also, I don't think merely the changing of the calendar should make us feel obliged to make better decisions. If today was messy, make tomorrow your fresh start. If this morning was a bust, try harder after lunch. Don't be so hard on yourself.

That said, I like to pick a new shade for the new year, a sort of giant parentheses in the sky to encompass my experiences in the next 12 months.

The goal of 2010 was to not be afraid to try new things. Well mark a gold glittery star next to that, because for the last four months, I've been writing these posts to you from Switzerland. Not to mention, saying goodbye to the safety of life as a college student. And the little things. Tried pâté. Won't be trying it again. But that's ok, that's the whole point of trying it, right?


The goal of 2011 is a little bit more nebulous but I'm aiming in the direction of inspiration. I want to be inspired by what I do. I want spit and vinegar, pep and vigor. I want joie de vivre. It doesn't need to be a  year of gleeful hurrahs and fireworks.  Those are exciting but I also want to do with gusto the necessary things, the hard things, the unpleasant things. 


I want to learn French like it's the last spoken language.
I want to write like the words need to pour out or they'll be lost. 
I want to learn how to cook rice that tastes so good, it outshines the meat and vegetables sitting on top.
I want to fail at learn how to ski in the Alps. 
I want to finish every song I play on the piano with a resounding glissando. 


Go big or go home. 
2011, go put on your game face.

4 comments:

  1. I've missed hearing from you via your blog. Glad that you are back and as delightful as ever. xoxo

    Funny quote from moments ago:
    "Why do you wipe your snot all over your face?!? Look it's here and here... how did it get way up here?"
    Matt asked Phoenix, who has another cold. Arg!

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  2. this is your most wonderful post so far, as uninspired as you may feel. favorite part: "if this morning was a bust, try harder after lunch." that was definitely my lesson learned from 2010.. life is so much easier that way!! I'm still tickled pink by your phone call the other day. you now understand me even better :) Love you lots and lots!

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  3. I must post on this one :)
    Alors, en français !
    demain on va cuire du riz!
    samedi on va skier!

    btw.... I will make sure you put on those skies at least once in the coming weeks!!! you've been heard :)

    a tout à l'heure!
    Audrey

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  4. Fantastic post!! I like the whole of the 2011 aim. And I like the 'if this morning was a bust...' bit, too.

    And here's something for you: http://www.neatorama.com/2011/01/14/mustache-bandages/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Neatorama+(Neatorama)

    in case mustaches are still in your field of vision...

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