Sunday, January 1, 2017

New Year, Ahoy!


So, big lesson learned ... Don't Write My End of Year Post Right After Finishing Reading a Book About The Holocaust. I was not feeling my best or most positive last night when I finally sat down to write and I honestly couldn't really see the point of summing up such a disappointing year. But today I finished re-listening to A Hat Full of Sky, the second of Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series, and felt entirely different. I *want* to set goals for 2017. I want to make a difference in the world. I want to be the change.
“There's always a story. It's all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything's got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.” - Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky
Today, I made some incredibly delicious banana bread, ran a bunch of errands, and decided to write this, my 1400th post for this blog! It's only 8:40pm on the west coast of the U.S. but I'm seeing lots of New Year's wishes coming in from around the world and it's giving me hope (as is the snow that is coming down). I grabbed a chunkster off of my TBR last night to start the new year with -- The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. In the coming year, I'm going to keep reading from my own shelves, throw in some library books that will expand my worldview and educate me, and find the causes that will benefit the most from my attention.

I know the days ahead are going to be up and down emotionally and intellectually but I really want to make an effort to push the balance toward hope, light, and love. I hope that you all will join me in this goal.

Resolving,
K

12 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Kristen! I'll certainly be joining you.

    Also, this is still only a maybe and I don't want to jinx it, but *whispers* I might be going to Seattle this year. I'll be in touch with you and Lena if so :D

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  2. I agree, Terry Pratchett is great to lift your mood. I read The Bromeliad Trilogy last year and just loved it, it was delightful and laugh-out-loud funny. I want to read more world literature as well. I'm signing up for a European reading challenge and I hope that will inspire me to read more books from outside the U.S. and the U.K. Here's to good reads in 2017!

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    1. Yes, I do a fantastic job of reading from the UK but I'm not sure that really counts as too different from the US. ;)

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  3. What a good idea, to read Pratchett for a lift. Go Kristen! I'd like to join you too.

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    1. I'm so glad! You're already one of the voices that brings positivity into my sphere. :)

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  4. This sounds like a really positive way to taken on the coming ups and downs of 2017! Your posts and tweets helped me get through the trauma/drama of November and December of 2016, so I know I will enjoy following your journey through this challenge. Happy New Year!

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    1. Your support really means a lot, Robin! It's much easier to be positive and a fighter too if you know people are watching you. :)

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  5. I had a couple of those moments this year, drafting in advance, having to scrap and start over when I realized something specific was messing with my mood. I'm glad you're seeing more positive things right now!

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    1. I definitely see more moments like that one ahead. It's going to be a rocky road but at least we'll all be on it together, eh?

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  6. Hugs to you, lovely Kristen, and the happiest of new years!

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