So, it's the New Year. And I've made a real resolution, as I
said in my first post of the year, which happened to be my first post in 8
months, give or take. I am resolved to
blog more regularly. I didn't ever
really intend to stop; it just happened...you know, life and living it with
three children and husband and community and ballet and soccer and church and
classes and summer vacations, etc. etc.
But that's always (yes, I said "always" – see an early post
from last year) going to be the case, right!
So, I am resolved. And what
better way to begin following the initial post honoring my father-in-law than
to talk about the New Year.
2013. While I don't
usually make resolutions, I do find myself each year thinking about the 12
months that has passed, remembering moments that stick out more than others
often because they were particularly joyous or sorrowful, as well as those that
touched our collective conscious as a society, culture, people, and world, also
often because they gave us some things to champion and celebrate or those at
which to rage or weep. There were many
this year both personally and publicly.
We mourn the loss of Middy, our first parent to bid
goodbye. And this fall, my Uncle John, a
prince among men, another individual who lived a purposeful, humble life, and
one to whom countless other lives may be credited as better for having known
him. We celebrated the addition of our dog (black lab, some 60-70 lb.s) to the
family, rescued from the pound after surviving a house fire that took his
family. Our beloved Dobby is now as much
part of the clan as the rest of us; named for Dobby, the elf, of Harry Potter
magic, he's proved as impish at times and definitely a source of more joy in
our everyday lives. Our children's birthdays all brought fun and laughter, of
course, and multiple exclamations of, "How can they possibly be this old
now?!" We experienced a number of
"firsts": piano recital for the oldest, Kindergarten for the
youngest! (so they're all in school now!), "Nutcracker" ballet on the
city's theater stage, cub scouts for our middle, team soccer, diving-board
dives and flips, and many other great activities together that help us
recognize all of our blessings.
And more publicly, the Olympics to watch in wonder and
cheer...to see athletes and nations stand united for moments, making us believe
if only for a bit we might just be able to solve big problems and make dreams
come true...even for the most vulnerable, to right wrongs, to give peace a
chance....but as much as that was part of 2012, so too was a political season
that seemed to never end. One of great
rancor and division...one where I wonder often how our children could ever look
to any political leaders as role models in the atmosphere in which they work
and operate these days. It's
embarrassing. And don't get me wrong;
I'm responsible, too. We all are. As citizens, I think we all share in the
reality we find ourselves in, a reality where the highest court in the land
declares companies as people, and two parties spend $$$$$$$$$$$ just to get
elected while children go hungry, are refused healthcare, and places generally
thought safe become tragic reminders of how far afield we've taken the 2nd
amendment and then some.
And so we celebrated and mourned, championed and raged. And ended the year focused on Christmas, its
meaning, and how to carry that forward into this New Year. Which brings me to now, the first weeks into
January, and some truths already laid-bare:
· The
S.E.C. remains dominant, but they also seem to get the good end of the calls,
too, don't they?!
· The
Redskins had an amazing season with RGIII, but now, they return home with a
shaky future and waiting to see what comes next...the way lots of seasons have
ended.
· Congress
is back for more...the "cliff" but delayed. Observation: it's time for someone to show
some leadership qualities!
And finally, this - and the title of the post...In thinking
of this new year, perhaps because of the magnitude of the tragedy at Sandy Hook
and the destruction of the earlier Sandy Storm, as well as my personal
"middle-age" reality, I have been thinking lots about what matters in
this life. I mean, what really
matters....and ya know, J.R.R. Tolkien is plain but eloquent, if you ask me. And it's especially appropriate now, of
course, with the release of the first installment of the 3-film epic, Peter
Jackson style, of the story that I loved as a 7th grader so many years ago and
just recently got to experience the joy of sharing with our oldest. While watching, we were enthralled, and
afterward, our word to each other was AWESOME.
Such fun...in his literary classic, The Hobbit, Tolkien writes:
"If
more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a
merrier world.”
The dwarf character Thorin speaks of Bilbo, the hobbit,
there, and generally all hobbits, for they are those who do value food and good
cheer, song and drink, fellowship among friends, much more than gold and riches
and success as others measured it (and others in our world, certainly, are
guilty of such measuring, too, right!).
There’s some wisdom in such words.
And I’m inclined to recognize that and even be guided by it more now in
the days of this year and beyond. That
paying attention to what really matters in this life is our relationships with
others, moments with cheer and joy (and sometimes moments of support when
things are difficult, too), all of them offering so much more than what we
attain.
Let’s put that above all else, for if we do, I suspect we will
find ourselves and our lives that much, much more abundant and full.
That’s how I’m going forward. And now, I’m really going forward, meaning
signing-off, for there are four syllabi to complete, resources to pull
together, and much to prepare for classes begin on Monday. It’s going to be a busy semester of two new
courses and two surveys…more on that in the next “Donna’schalktalks”…thanks for
reading.
Til next time, may
you enjoy much good food and good cheer!
