Anais Nin aptly put to words my opinion of making New Year’s resolutions. She said, I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me. Amen! I see no reason to resolve to set another goal atop the burden of resolutions I already carry. Until today…
I came across a wonderful quote by Neil Gaiman about the New Year. It spoke to me. I hope it does to you, too. Mr. Gaiman said:
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
So, my friends, for the first time in years, I am making a new resolution. I resolve to throw off the fear of failure. I resolve to make mistakes so I am free to relish this life I’ve been given, free to learn new things, and, yes, free to write new things. When I look back on 2014, it will be with the knowledge I kept my resolution.
That’s my resolution. What’s yours?
May God’s blessings and grace surround you in 2014 and beyond.