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Column Archive |
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December, 2016 |
Pre-Resolution Musings |
by Webmaster |
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On January 1st, a lot of us will make New Year's Resolutions. I don't do that anymore. Well, I have one resolution I make every year. "Don't steal cheap pens." When I try to make plans, the Universe points and laughs. At least I know the Universe has a sense of humor. Some of my friends think I do, too. Recently I posted on Facebook, "I wrote down my to-do list. Gives me something to read if I get bored." A friend commented, "I'm not sure you understand how the list works...." I do understand how to-do lists work. What is emotionally important to us is foremost in our minds. If writing is important to our sanity, we find time to write. If playing music is important to our happiness, we play. If paying bills is important to our sense of control and security, we pay bills. What is not emotionally important to us, what is distasteful or unpleasant, gets forgotten. It is the filler that gets done when there is nothing important to do. That's what goes on the to-do list. Eating better? Working out? Practicing scales? If you wanted to do that, you'd be doing it this month, not waiting until January to make a resolution you won't stick to. Another comment I wrote on Facebook recently:
I have OCD combined with ADD. I tend to work on one project at a time, at the exclusion of all else, until I get distracted or pass out from hunger. Then I get distracted—"Oh, look. A shiny object."—and forget about the project I was working on. Perhaps balance doesn't mean working a little bit on a lot of projects, but working a diversity of projects. One writing project. Practicing one instrument. One project on the house. One small exercise routine. Add those four projects into the chores that must be done: feeding the dogs, cooking the food, cleaning the kitchen, winding the clocks, watering the plants, taking out the trash and recycling, repairing the cars, paying the bills, doing the laundry, dusting and vacuuming, tidying up. and web work. That sounds like a very full, well-balanced schedule. This morning I worked on two old songs and a new poem. Now I'm writing the monthly column. Maybe I should make a resolution to only work on one writing project at a time. But the inspirations come. And if we igrnore our muse, the inspirations will stop coming. Creativity begets creativity. The more creative we become in one area, the more creative we get in other areas. Let the good ideas flow. Plus, at a time like this, when a lot of long-term projects are coming to completion at once, it's the exciting part of the roller-coaster ride. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I didn't plan it this way. Last year I planned to add yoga to my life. I wound up adding silver, glass, and wood jewelry-making to my life, instead. I am far more passionate about and excited by the designs in my head than yoga on a mat. Perhaps too many resolutions that we stick-to, like mindless robots, rob us of the room in our lives to find a new passion or rekindle an old one. If we have to make a resolution to practice guitar or write a song, maybe, just maybe, it's time to stop playing or writing, and find something creative that we want to do. Somethat that we jump out of bed in the morning just to do. Not something that needs a resolution or a spot on a to-do list. Thanks for visiting AcousticByLines.com. |
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