January 2012

Welcoming In The New Year

On the most boring day of the year, I clean my house. I put away all the Christmas decorations and sweep out the dust of the worn-out year to make way for the new.

This year, as I went through my ritual housecaring, I ran into obstacles: a basket with four unfinished knitting projects, two bags of wool skeins bought at sales, three quilt tops I inherited when my grandmother-in-law downsized, and my ever-growing piles of to-be-read books. I realized that one of my goals for the new year had to be to make those piles disappear.

I'm making a commitment to finish those unfinished projects, to buy no new wool—even if I happen across a great sale—until I've gone through the skeins I already have. I'm also going to have to put a halt on buying new books until I've gone through the TBR piles. That's going to be the toughest commitment to keep. I'm addicted to books, the feel of them, the smell of them, the stories they keep within their covers. But all these gems have been waiting in the wings for a long time and they deserve attention. On the other hand, maybe there's a way around that limitation. If I don't add to the pile, then it doesn't count, right? Um, e-books?

As for business and personal growth goals. I won't make those until my birthday. I find they're easier to keep if I don't make them in the flush of a brand-new year.

Even if the ancient prophecies are right and 2012 marks the end of the world as we know it, I'll feel better for having finished those unfinished projects.

I wish all of you a happy and healthy New Year, one filled with terrific stories that enchant and entertain you!

Until next time, keep reading!

Sylvie