It’s a good day to have a good day


It’s a new year, and normally this is the time I am setting goals and choosing a “guiding” word. Last year I eagerly tore open my new journal, filling its pages with lofty goals – lots and lots of them. I even met some. Others, I ignored completely, or just plain forgot.

Not this year.

At the end of 2021, I reached a milestone – a stopping point to a larger goal – and when I got there, I thought, huh… Don’t get me wrong. I’m psyched, but… huh… And while I’m not sure what to make of my reaction – not yet anyway – I am thinking this year will be less about goals and destinations and more about the adventure – enjoying the ride – all the ups and downs and bumps along the way.

Instead of goals or guiding words, I’ve adopted a motto. I found it while researching French phrases for one of my more annoying characters (he’s not actually French – he just likes to think he is… aka annoying 😂):

Mangez bien,
riez souvent,
aimez beaucoup

which translates to – Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly.
Needless to say, this phrase will not be uttered by my bothersome character. But that won’t stop me from stealing it for myself.

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned (many, many times ☺️) how much I love winter – winter hiking and exploring the forest. So, the other day, resolute in my not-a-new-years-resolution to step away from my computer more often, I bundled up and headed out with Greg and Chessie to explore an old rock quarry in Dorset, Vermont. It was a relatively short hike in the snow. Not another soul in sight. Peaceful…

I even dusted off my big girl camera, although my settings were off – way off – which I didn’t discover until I got home. Yeah, I’m rusty. Grrr…

The quarry was fascinating, though – especially the graffiti which was (for the most part) surprisingly uplifting. The only f-bomb I found was followed by Covid-19, and I was so busy nodding and thinking, yup, that I forgot to feel offended (not that I actually would… but you know what I mean). 😆

Yup – it’s a good day to have a good day. And I hope you are all doing well! Updates on my mystery manuscript and all those things that make me go huh will be included in my next newsletter.

I’m curious, though. Do you set goals for yourself each year?

Until next time…

,

10 responses to “It’s a good day to have a good day”

  1. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I think it is the balance between having SPACE (my word for the year) and goals and intentions. A hard space to find and stay in.

    1. Karen Avatar

      I definitely like the idea of space – and finding the balance. I’m looking forward to talking about this some more. I’d love some insight or ideas on how to make it all work!

  2. seabluelee Avatar

    I used to set goals every year. This year, reading over some old journals and lists, I was struck by how they were the same every year. But I also realized that, even though I still would like to _______ [fill in the blank with same ol’ same ol’ list], they are really ongoing processes rather than goals with an end point. And over time I have actually made huge changes and progress in each of those areas. I’m going to celebrate that progress by cutting myself a bit of slack. So my new goal is to get out and do some fun things this year.

    1. Karen Avatar

      That’s a great way to look at it. I suspect if I look back, I’ll see progress in areas. I like the idea of working towards something with the focus on progress rather than the destination.

  3. alakis27 Avatar

    I would suggest that it was, perhaps I, who dropped the Covid F-Bomb; but we all know that it is too cold for me to be tagging rocks in Vermont. Florida is nice this time of year… 🙂

    1. Karen Avatar

      Haha! I suspect the rocks were tagged in the summer. I’m glad you guys are enjoying the Florida sunshine.

  4. Barb Avatar

    “more about the adventure – enjoying the ride – all the ups and downs and bumps along the way” – yep, this is what I aspire to do! I love your photos – VT is so photogenic! I think I remember that old quarry. Is the Long Trail School still in Dorset? I was an interim teacher there long ago. I just came back from a snowshoe, and I had to break trail. I think my old legs might be sore tonight. I’ll remember this Karen; “It’s a good day to have a good day….”

    1. Karen Avatar

      Hi Barb-good to hear from you. I think the Long Trail School is still in Dorset. We haven’t done any snowshoeing yet, although we went out without our snowshoes and that was a mistake. It turned out to be a much shorter walk than we had planned – live and learn…

  5. Beatrice Avatar

    I can’t recall a time when I ever made a list of resolutions, whether for the New Year or anytime, Karen. That said, I have made some inner promises to myself for this year and one of them is to not get upset at folks over non-important stuff. There’s a lot of that all around and it’s definitely not worth the worry or effort. Hope to hear updates on the book writing at a future date. Nice to get out and you definitely have had more snow than here in nashua, NH.

    1. Karen Avatar

      Inner promises sound like a good idea. Some years I’ve made resolutions, others, I haven’t. The last few years, they’ve mostly been goals – which are great – but I didn’t do it this year. I like the idea of promising myself something. And you’re right about not getting upset – it seems there’s so much to get upset about right now.

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