First, and most significantly, HAPPY NEW YEAR! In fact, everyone knows, it’s actually simply one other day, the “12 months” idea being an arbitrary building of our mind’s want for order. However, hey: “Simply one other day?” Possibly there’s no such factor. Not “simply one other day,” however HOLY S___!, WE GET ANOTHER DAY!!!!

2023 has not been my finest 12 months. And but, as I’ve stated numerous occasions, I’m not useless but. I stated that as a joke initially, however as time went on I discovered to understand it for what it truly is: A privilege and an honor to get up each morning, in a life the place I’m not homeless, ravenous, or beneath siege.

That’s my dedication for the New 12 months, to savor and enjoyment of all that I’ve. Not simply right this moment, and even each morning after I write in my gratitude journal, however second by second.

I’m impressed by Ross Homosexual’s ebook, The E book of Delights,  by which the award-winning poet evokes us to inhale the small and wondrous issues which encompass us. My checklist is countless. The scent of Skip’s paws. The velvet comfortable fur between Maggie’s eyebrows. The blue of Jim’s eyes. The white, orange, and yellow colours of the dietary supplements I take. (Admittedly, the sheer amount of them makes {that a} push.)

However, then. There’s the sensible writing in my new favourite novelist’s ebook: Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River. The inexperienced shoots of tulips arising within the bulb backyard sitting on our eating room desk from White Flower Farm. Skip standing on his hind legs, unable to comprise his pleasure, as I open the door on the best way to the sheep.

As I stated, the checklist is countless. Ross Homosexual suggests calling out DELIGHT! to associates or to your self when one thing strikes you, as a solution to entrain appreciation within the small wonders of the world. What an exquisite factor to do.

This is not going to save the earth, finish wars, feed the ravenous, or rescue the struggling, regardless of the species. We’re all known as to do what we are able to, regardless of how small, to proper the wrongs of the world. We should, merely should, if we’re in any respect ready, do one thing to attempt to assist others frequently. However that doesn’t imply it’s incorrect to savor what is sweet, not simply the tiny issues, however particularly the tiny issues. To buoy ourselves up lest we get pulled down by the riptide of all that’s incorrect.

Final 12 months my New 12 months’s submit targeted on how I needed to really feel in 2023, not a lot what I needed to perform. I nonetheless love that perspective. Right here’s what I needed: To really feel Liked and Loving. Amused. Curious. Delighted. Awed.

And, Energetic.

Whoops, stated the lady who developed Epstein Barr-related Continual Fatigue Syndrome in early 2023, together with a boring bunch of different stuff. Ah, the irony. However hey, 5 out of six isn’t dangerous.

And all of the extra motive to study to savor what we do have, regardless of how inconsequential it might sound on the time. You by no means know.

So. DELIGHT is my Phrase, my Feeling, and my To Do checklist for 2024. I hope you additionally discover a lot to thrill in. Go searching–what about proper now?

MEANWHILE, again to the farm: Jim, Maggie, Skip, and I want you a Comfortable New 12 months, as protected and cherished as Maggie is right here, in our tiny, however cozy, farmhouse lounge. Maggie’s eleventh birthday is January third. There will probably be ice cream.

Actuality test: The small desk on the left of the sofa comprises two African Violets (one, from pal Donna’s mom Rose, may nearly be as outdated as I’m.) Though the lounge had simply been dusted and vacuumed for firm, the canine hairs adorning the crops by no means fail to vanish, regardless of how painstakingly I attempt to decide them off. I’m reminded of that nice quote I posted some time in the past from FB: “#1 Motive the home is soiled: The canine are alive.”

Right here’s one thing to thrill in: We warmed our hearts on the Solstice whereas having fun with the bonfire at Mazomanie’s Wolf Run Path, certainly one of our favourite native walks.

This beautiful puzzle from eeBoo was a Christmas current from expensive associates, D & J. It introduced a disproportionate quantity of pleasure into our family–the colourful addition to our eating room made me comfortable for your entire two days that it was out. (Solely 500 items, however, actually, it was pleasant to have one thing so fulfilling completed.

A lot to thrill in! Let’s have a good time as a Village and name out DELIGHT! right here, and DELIGHT! there. Regardless of how small. Maybe, even, the smaller the higher? You, expensive Village, are certainly one of my favourite delights of all. Not small, however actually valuable. I want you so many good issues this 12 months. Thanks for being right here.