January fancies itself as the month of fresh starts. A new year, a new you, complete with resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, and make this year the best ever.
The bar is low, January 2021.
While I refuse to make resolutions that are destined to be forgotten by February, I do enjoy contemplating the possibilities of a new year. I open my brand new planner, admiring the blank pages waiting to be filled. Last year so many pages were left blank, so many celebrations and trips cancelled. What will 2021 bring? It’s impossible to know, but each day I have a choice, and today I choose joy.
*****
In 2016, I jumped on the word of the year bandwagon, and declared mine embrace. I took it to heart so much that I embraced the same word in 2017. Apparently my arms got tired, because I skipped the next two years and settled on purposeful last January. 2020 then gave the world a big middle finger.
Dictionaries choose their word of the year based on internet searches and spikes in use; Merriam-Webster named pandemic as its 2020 word of the year. Oxford Dictionaries couldn’t pick just one, publishing a report on Words of an Unprecedented Year.
I choose words based on how I want to live each year. But like Oxford found, there are too many words, too many possibilities, too many what-ifs, to choose just one. But today, I choose joy.
*****
One of my January projects is cleaning up my blog and printing all my posts. Inspired by fellow writer and book lover, Nina, this hefty bit of housekeeping reminds me of going through old photo albums. I finished editing and printing out my first year this week, and my 2013 posts ranged from hot mess to cringeworthy to sentimental.
My first post was January 2, 2013, and it was about books, of course. I posted at least twice a week, every week, and completely stressed about leaving my blog for a week of summer vacation.
By the end of my third year of blogging, I had published 302 posts. About 10% were about books, and almost a quarter were (subjectively) humor posts. As it had been the first two years, blogging was about connections, and I spent as much time visiting other blogs and commenting as I did writing on my own.
In January 2020, I wrote this:
Kiss my List is seven years old this month. My kids were eleven and fourteen when I began, and I had 20/20 vision and no gray hair. All that has changed, and every year I post less. I only posted thirteen times in 2019, compared to 32 times in 2018 and a whopping 72 times in 2015… I’ve often thought about quitting, but when it came time to renew my domain and hosting last month, I just couldn’t give up this space.
Much remains the same a year later. I only posted eight times last year, although I give myself a pass because, 2020. What does one write as a pandemic takes hold, systemic racism finally begins to be acknowledged, and our country’s political divide becomes hateful and violent? Or more to the point, what do I write? I’ve always held this space as a place of optimism and hope, and when I struggle to find either, I simply stop writing.
Perhaps you view that as a cop-out. Perhaps I do as well. But that’s where I am right now, as I celebrate eight years of writing in this space. Writing of books and travel, growing older and wiser, trying to live life with humor and grace. I was forty-one years old when I began, and in the fall of this year I will turn fifty. My children are young adults; my full-time mom gig is over. I lucked into a part-time position at a lovely gift boutique, a job so perfect for me that I started in the middle of this pandemic, because this opportunity would likely never present itself again. Because there will be a time when we can once more stand close to other humans, when we can hug those we love, and when can we take off our masks and see one another’s smiles.
*****
I have less to write about these days, but I choose to stay here because writing brings me joy, and there are still words swirling in my brain, waiting to be freed and shared. Thank you for being here to read them.
Glad you’re staying! I am too. Let’s just stick it out. 🙂
Yes, let’s!
Choosing joy is an outstanding idea, and I choose it with you. I’m glad to see you in this space whenever you feel inspired to share your thoughts. Looking forward to your next post…
Here’s to a new year!
Cheers to 2021! Thank you for always reading, Julia.
Thank you for choosing joy, and for choosing to write and stay in this space. I know I am not the only one who appreciates it! xo
Thanks, Erica!
Congrats on your part-time position, Dana, and happy new year! Like you, I’m carrying over my word for the year, which was “closer”. But I’m also repurposing my word from a few years back, which was “focus”. We’ll see how it goes! I’m committing to blogging once a month, which is what I did last year. More than that is too much for me at this stage. Take care!
Once a month sounds like a realistic goal for me too, Alison. We’ve been following one another for many years – I’m glad we’ve stayed connected!
I enjoy reading your blogs, especially the travel ones, that make me feel like I am on vacation with you. I really appreciate that it allows me to stay connected with you. Thank you. Gail
Oh, I’m so happy you enjoy reading my posts! And I love that it keeps us connected too. Hope you and Frank are well.
I remember that post – last year’s – and it so resonated with me! Next month is 8 years for me, and I only posted I think 3 times last year. I JUST posted my first 2021 post (books , of course), and I am going to try and do one post a month. I can’t give it up either. I ordered a word bracelet and was going to post on it, but I just realized, while reading baout your word, the bracelet never arrived:(. Off to find out why!
Happy Anniversary! And I love that you chose JOY!
Oh, and I read Nina’s post and I want to print out and archive my old posts, but it certainly seems like a very daunting task!
What was your word on the bracelet? I hope it arrives eventually. As for printing out the posts…it is daunting, but doable. I open a word document and cut and paste each post as I check it for broken links, etc. I delete the photos too. One hundred pages printed for 2013, but that was by far my most prolific year. And I deleted about 20 posts too!
Ditto Andi!!!!
xoxo
I love this, Dana. I am trying to keep choosing joy (and hope) alongside you. Thanks for writing and sharing, and for this awesome line, “ 2020 then gave the world a big middle finger.” 😂🤣
Looking forward to time together again. Hopefully sooner than later. 💜
You are one of the most wonderful joy-choosers I know, Kris, and that’s one of the reasons I love you!
Dana, I don’t think I have written a comment in quite a while.. I wanted to now tell you again how beautifully I think you write and so thoughtfully. Your words make so much sense to me, even though I am quite a bit older than you. I have known you almost your whole life and even though I don’t see you, I hear all about you and your family through your parents. You are a beautiful intelligent woman. Please continue the blogs even if they are very in frequent!
What a lovely comment, Andi – thank you! I’m so glad my writing resonates with you.