Surprises

2012 is upon us, and I have some pretty big items on this year's bucket list. Graduate College. Get TEFL certification. Travel like mad. Things of that nature.

Oh, and, of course, write until my pens run out of ink. Buy more pens. Continue writing.

On New Year's Eve, Neil Gaiman posted on his blog some advice that I found inspiring. He talks about creativity, the power of love, intentional kindness.

I got into reading Gaiman's wishes from new years past (which, by the way, are now old years, ha!). And, harking all the way back to 2001, I saw in front of me a goal that was already at the top of my bucket list:

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

Surprising myself. A big goal for 2012.

I hope that you, too, surprise yourself in 2012. I hope you laugh with abandon. I hope you see beautiful things. I hope you love richly, in spite of yourself, when it isn't deserved, when it's inconvenient for you.

Here's to our best year yet.

Self-Explanatory

Photo c/o etsy.com

I saw this on the web today and thought it was a nice contrast to my recent, longer posts. It's so true, and just in time for Thanksgiving.

Joy and Peace

School has started again. And, just like that, I'm back into it: the rush, the endless emails, the late nights, the piles of reading. It's like some kind of hurricane, building up from afar and then hitting hard all at once. Granted, this is the last time I'll be starting a fall semester for awhile, and, while that's consoling, it doesn't quite combat the knowledge that I still have to get through this semester and then another before the craziness finally ceases and I'm home-free. Needless to say, I'm needing a lot more than the hope of graduation to keep myself afloat right now.

I ran across part of this entry on pinterest the other day, and reading the whole chapter was pretty calming. For a few moments, unanswered texts and my long list of things to do stopped buzzing around, and I was granted silence. A pretty sweet gift in the midst of anxiety, huh?

Joy and Peace
Rejoice in the lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness shall be known to all. The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the peace of God will be with you.

-Philippians 4:4-9

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phew.

Sweet Irish Air

"In London you live; in the country you breathe…" -Eliza Lynn Linton, writer, 1893