Sunday, December 6, 2015

A New Year Resolution? Maybe!


Hot damn, it's been a long time since I've posted anything. Sometimes I forget that I even have a blog at all.

In general I don't make new year resolutions. I'm a firm believer that if you really want to make changes in your life, no matter the time of year, the time to do it is the moment you decide to make the change. To put off working towards your goals until the new year begins may be a sign that the changes you want to make aren't important enough to start immediately.

I've been thinking a lot lately about writing. I use to write a lot. I was fairly religious about keeping a journal; I loved writing short stories. I considered it a hobby. For some reason I stopped writing a few years ago. I don't know why. I can't think of a reason.  I made the decision, today, to start writing again; to make it a habit. Since the new year is only a couple of weeks away I feel comfortable calling this a new year resolution, even though I'm starting right now .

I don't know what this resolution will look like, at least not specifically. I've given myself permission to re-form this writing habit slowly, and to let it take multiple forms. I bought a spiral bound artists sketch book in which I can write, draw, scribble, paste, color, tape, etc. I've got various writing utensils to inspire my creativity. I've got art supplies, in the event my writing needs some art to accompany, or inspire it. I've got this blog.

The point here is not to force myself to write so many short stories or journal entries in such and such amount of time; the point is to re-learn the writing process. I'm re-learning how to give myself to permission to be creative again, how let the word-juices flow. After all, I'm writing for no one but myself.

How will this blog fit in the process? I'm also not entirely certain about that either. Maybe it'll be the tool I use to write about the other habits and hobbies I have. Food, cooking, baking, and other kitcheny things, reading, knitting, movies, music, friendly things, and health. Maybe I'll use this blog to write about building skills I don't have yet, like fixing the plumbing and building a shelf; these are skills I would benefit from just now.

Here's to forming positive habits, getting back to the things that make you happy, and getting down to business!