A Bit of Brie: January 2019

Remember how it felt at the start of every school year? Pencils sharpened and that fresh new expanse of lined paper stretching out with great promise, books at the ready, outfit picked out for the first day? There was always the possibility that this year you'd leave more time to study, work just a little harder on a project, make great new friends, ace math tests, maybe even participate in a history discussion with certainty.

That's what we do at the threshold of a calendar change like this one. As Oprah Winfrey said, "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." It's like amnesty for our lives: turn in your mistakes, your social gaffes, your family squabbles, your jealousy; offer up the moments you chose disrespect over honor or went for the easy, embarrassing humor at someone's expense; surrender all those times you could have loved someone more but didn't. You can be better now!

I don't have a lot of regrets as a human being - I think I do a fairly good job of it - but I am imperfect as we all are. I am so arrogant about my usually facile writing skills that I don't always map out the right amount of time to complete a project or piece. I have a small lime-green wooden plaque on the wall in my kitchen that says, "Let me drop everything and work on your problem," given to me by a longtime pal who recognizes that I am more apt to put my own life on hold and my own commitments at risk to solve something for another. (Yes, I know that's a good thing...but to those on the other side of my commitments, not so much.) I wish I could weather the storm of my father's speedy decline this past year and at present without any resentment toward my sisters because I'm the one usually on deck, or the irritation I feel when my father snaps at me: my funny, sweet dad who is changing before my eyes. I'd like to be a better friend; more available and more impulsive about meeting up. I'd also like to take exceptional care of myself, but alas - that "drop everything" tendency affects this, too, so I'm kind of a mess! Yeah, I want to be better at all of this.

Like most people, I don't make resolutions anymore. But I like the idea that several friends have adopted, of choosing one word for the new year. (By the way, that is a terrible thing to ask a writer, because we turn over each one like we're tasting it and trying to figure out all of the ingredients. When you only get one word, it had better be a freaking good one.)

Because I tend to beat myself up so much over nearly everything, I chose this one: progress. My mother often used this Italian phrase when we were stuck on homework: "a poco a poco tutto viene fatto." Little by little, all gets done. I use it often in my adult life. If I choose progress, I'm always moving forward, always accomplishing something toward the goal, I'm practicing self-care, I'm free to help others without giving up too much of what I need, I can improve in my family and friend relationships without having to be a saint (it is SO draining to be a saint, don't you think?)...it covers all bases with just the right amount of pressure and encouragement!

So that's settled. I'm moving into this shiny new year with another chance to get it right. Want to come with?

© 2019 A Bit of Brie/Anitabrie

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. Oprah Winfrey
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/oprah_winfrey_676234?src=t_new_year%27s

A Bit of Brie

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Another Chance To Get It Right