January 1, 2025
Happy New Year!
Just when we all finally got
used to writing 2024, it’s time to learn a new number. I’m sure that’s not
necessarily a problem from those of a different generation from us boomers:
well, maybe some Gen Xer’s might be disconcerted, but I’m sure the Millennials
and those Gen Z young’uns won’t even consider the matter a challenge.
I don’t know if making New
Year’s resolutions is still a thing, or not. Do you think it is? The only
person I heard mention them is my oldest great-granddaughter, who is eleven.
She asked me if I have made any for this year, and I told her that I usually
don’t.
And that’s true, as far as it
goes. Outside of this time of year, I do have it in mind each day to try to be
better and do better in every area.
I don’t know if setting New
Year’s resolutions would fall under the category of goal setting or dream
casting. My general perception is that it’s easy in the joy of the moment and
the spirit of the season to toss out something as a resolution: and here you
can list whatever behavioral tic you’d like to smooth over, or bad habit you’d
like to reform.
There’s nothing wrong with
stating that you’d like to improve yourself. Speaking those words indicates
self awareness, and that’s a fine quality to have. The only problem is that
decisions made under the conditions of “New Year’s Resolutions” tend not to
stick. And when they don’t it could very well mean that the person who “failed”
feels like a failure. I submit that the concept of New Years’
resolutions includes in it’s definition the inevitability of failure.
Change, if change is to be
made, must be done methodically and deliberately. If there’s something you’d
like to improve about yourself, then you need to think about it, consider a
course of action to achieve your goal—and that is the key. Because what you’re
really seeking to do is to achieve a goal, and not have a wish granted by your
fairy godmother.
It’s been a busy Holiday
Season here for the Ashbury family. David and I attended three social events in
four days, last week. For two people who have successfully and proudly earned
the title of “hermit” over the last three years, that was…. quite something.
The combined number of people in attendance at the events topped forty. Peopling
takes a great deal of energy in and of itself. When that includes the presence
of several running, laughing, shouting children under the age of ten?
It's a wonder I was able to
drag myself out and get into the car to go home again.
Of course, it wasn’t just the actual
social affairs that we attended that wore me out. The girls and I went into the
big city closest to us to one of their enormous malls. To shop. On the Saturday
before Christmas.
I know, what were we thinking?
On the bright side we got there before the stores opened and got a prime
parking space. And my daughter was able to put my cart together, so I was zooming
through that sucker like nobody’s business. Just as we were about done, the
place really began to fill up. Having done all that zooming and some shopping,
we decided we really should treat ourselves to lunch. And of course, since we
were so close to our favorite and large Chinese food buffet restaurant….
Shopping done, lunch a fond
memory, I had some cooking ahead of me—my contributions to the supper at our
second daughter’s on Christmas Eve—and decided to divide the work over a couple
of days. On Monday I prepared the stuffing for the turkeys, as well as my
Christmas pudding—a steamed desert which I make but once each year. Then on
Tuesday morning, I prepared the sweet potatoes, as well as a baked crab dip. Dividing
the work made all the difference. It was easier to accomplish than trying to do
everything in one day.
The first three items,
stuffing and pudding and yams, were items that they all look forward to, part
of our Christmas meal traditions. The crab dip (served warm) is my second
daughter’s favorite which I’ve only been making for a few years.
The socializing all came after
the shopping and the cooking, and really brought home to me that while I can
still do some of the things I’ve always done, I just need to remember that I am
older, and I slowing down. That’s just the way it is.
Perhaps I should have made a New
Year’s resolution, after all. One to be kinder to myself. The only problem is,
I don’t know for certain if I’d be able to succeed at that.
Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
