At the request of a couple of friends, an update. 2012, in retrospect, has seen me through tremendous change, most of it painful but necessary. Chesterton says,
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."
The same could be said for tragedy. Suffering is only opportunity wrongly considered.
In that vein, I've had one of the most fulfilling and productive years in my life.
I'm on the second draft of my First Story; learning, and loving what I'm learning, all the time; making new friendships and acquaintances and strengthening old ones; digging and getting a lot of poisonous, self-sabotaging thinking and tendencies out of my system; witnessing the cycle of new life in the world (welcome, Sal!); making my home my own; watching my wonderful son become even more and more wonderful before my very eyes; publishing some poetry, growing as an artist, and nurturing two blogs; and seeing my beautiful and best friend meet the man God's made for her in a whirlwind of answered prayers, abandonment to faith, and a revelation that everyone deserves happiness--ending in an engagement!
What I would like to do in 2013:
Throw myself back into my faith whole-heartedly, by making time for Mass other than on Sundays, praying the Rosary, and going to Adoration; continue to write and edit at a reasonable-ranging-to-impressive pace; tend to my health, continuing in the precedent I set up before Christmas to keep all cane sugar and white starch out of the house, and moving forward with a doctor's appointment to get things checked out once-for-all, even if the out-of-pocket expenses hurt; potty train the little one; learn even more; read more; try to find the rhythm of my own "domestic monastery" (thanks, Masha); make time for beauty and the present.
Also, a move to Wales is looking more and more like a reality. We'll see.
Domestic monastery is my favorite image for the home, I'm glad it's getting passed around! My prayers as we go into 2013..Your goals inspire me! Though daily Mass and adoration are out, one car, 25 minute drive to church, long workdays..but the rosary is so neglected in my life and so beneficial!
ReplyDeleteYour writing and editing seem wicked impressive to me! And good luck keeping out the processed things..White flour reigns supreme in our house - I love making Ciabatta and whatnot, but I admire from a safe distance those who can resist it! My biggest Monastery adjustment is the commitment to regular meals and along with it, avoiding in-between munching: Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, and Dinner..looking Attractive, I eat better when I focus on the beauty of the meal..
2013 will be better than 2012! I can feel it! A letter will be on it's way as soon as the days are warm enough for us to leave the house and mail it..4 degrees right now :( 4. Tomorrow's high, 9. Enjoy your warm winter weather!
Masha, I was doing better in the autumn as far as healthy, regular meals. And it probably evens out, because I don't see your family making the stops at McDonald's and Taco Bell that mine does!
ReplyDeleteTrue..the nearest of either is 20 minutes, and I had a horrible childhood experience with Mcdonald's food, I haven't gone back since ;) Winter's hard for healthy regular eating, when it's really cold I just want to eat myself warm. My main weakness is ice cream..and alcohol, and coffee ice-cream with Irish cream. Even in the winter, and you have to eat So Much More to get warm when you're eating ice cream! ;)
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