Hobbit-inspired Wisdom: What I Shall Try to Implement This New Year!

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!