I started writing something else but haven’t finished it. I’m not sure where that piece is going or what it really wants to be. It’s kind of about ageism, and maybe I will come back to it. I don’t know. Meantime, it’s New Year’s Day. As usual, I was asleep well before midnight, though the fireworks woke me. I didn’t mind and would have slept through after if not for my neighbor shrieking at her partner at one a.m. My building is quite quiet. I rarely hear any noise. but her shrill voice is her superpower. It cuts through any wall. Not his–I can never hear his response. Fortunately, their arguments are not an extremely frequent occurrence, but often enough that I am enjoying getting my small revenge.
This morning the newspapers are full of articles about New Year’s resolutions. Aren’t we continually resolving to do things differently or better? I don’t know. I do know there was something I was thinking about when I could not fall back to sleep last night, and resolved to tackle it today, but now I do not recall what it was. And I peruse all the articles even though I suspect they may be the same ones I read last year.
At services yesterday (You may recall that in my personal brand of atheism I am quite observant), the rabbi, after the obligatory secular New Year’s remarks, talked about resolutions that might bring joy. Small things. She said she planned to wear more pink. I loved that idea. I love the notion of joy and small things that might bring joy. I am going to make more soup, all kinds of soup. That will be one of my resolutions. I will start with a vegetable soup. There are carrots, celery, kohlrabi and the last of the late summer herbs in the refrigerator that would all benefit from some TLC or wind up in the compost. Soup will bring me joy.
If I remember, which is my biggest challenge, each day this week I will think of something that brings me joy and add that to my resolutions list. This will be fun. My measures of success will be joy and fun. My ruminations on ageism can wait. If you’ve got ideas for small things you will be doing that will bring you joy, let us know
Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year.
But, if you “want it darker,” here’s Leonard Cohen with a few words about “The Future.”