Friday, January 1, 2016

Single Words, A New Year, Lentils, and Being Human

Here's the message from my newsletter, sent out on New Year's Eve. Enjoy! (Why the pic of lentils? I learned last night that a pocketful of lentils at midnight on New Year's Eve is good luck for the coming year. I didn't have any pockets. I hope it works even if you dropped them in your purse.)

Hello Friends,
 
What kind  of a year did you have? If you're like me--human, and an adult--I'll bet it was mixed: laughter and love, tears and sadness. Since the roller coaster is, in fact, normal, one can only be thankful, try to find the horizon.
 
Isn't that what writers do? Look back, think about life, try to make some kind of crazy sense of it all, write it down.
 
In that universal way then, 2015 was a good year, exactly in the natural human rhythm, the universe pushing and pulling.
 
Work: I saw a lot of my writing published, spoke at conferences, got nominated for a nifty award. Family: the extended clan welcomed three new babies, a beloved aunt turned 100, a son grew Eagle wings.
 
Highs, and huzzah.
 
There were lows, certainly. The "best" part of that was having people to link arms with. We cried, wiped tears, cracked inappropriate jokes.
 
Onward.
 
I have my new secret word of inspiration all picked out for 2016. Do you?
 
It may seem like a silly or inconsequential thing, choosing a single, simple word. Though writers know: a word--well, that is power. Some days, it is my secret year-long word that lifts me, reminds me the coaster will climb again.
 
I hope, as you welcome 2016, that your roller coaster car is cranking skyward. That when it races to earth, someone is next to you, arms strongly linked.
 
Next year, let's all be human together.
 
Onward.
 
Lisa
 


2 comments:

fullsoulahead.com said...

Love the idea of a secret word. Thank you! Happy New Year!

Nina B said...

I have my secret word, too! :)