New Year brings a combination of excitement and dread for me. It’s a blank canvas! There is so much I can do! But what if I don’t do enough?? What if I don’t do it right?? It’s not dissimilar to the feelings that often accompany the creative practice and artistic process, in my experience. In the case of both my advice is: just jump in!

So, taking my own advice, I have decided to begin 2012 with a blog. I really enjoyed the daily communion with my computer while working on my Carving the Road to London project last summer and have opted to revisit the process.

As I sit watching the seemingly never-ending stream of commercials advertising online dating sites and diet programs that suddenly appear around December 30th each year, I have opted to forgo the traditional list of resolutions that undoubtedly remind me of my flaws and all the exciting things lacking in my life, in favor of a list of gentle reminders. It’s an ongoing list,but here it is… in no particular order.

1. Learn something new.
2. Set realistic expectations. OK, as a Virgo this can be difficult for me, but I am going to aim for it.
3. Gratitude. We all could have more of it.
4. Read more fiction.
5. Trust.
6. Take more photos just for the heck of it.
7. Laugh. A lot.
8. Create a daily log of all that I want to accomplish and buy a special pen to check each item off!
9. Be brave and keep on truckin’.

And in light of all that and my personal love of aviation, here’s a nice little story to kick off 2012.
Happy New Year! May it be a wonderful one!

http://cowbird.com/stories/loved/#/3598