Happy New Year – Use it up!

Happy New Year. I usually don’t mark the movement of one year to the next. Why? Because I have my own personal new year on my birth date in March. That is when I usually do my best self reflection. This year though, maybe because of the cold outside, or the wonderful family time I have spent or maybe even the gift of a whole day doing nothing but walking in the winter wonderland, I decided to give myself a 2018 task. I am not thinking of it as a resolution so much as part of my minimalist project which is on going, usually at a snails pace. This year I am going to take all of the beautiful notebooks and journals I have been given through the years by people who know I love paper, pens and writing things, and I am going to use them.

I have many beautiful books lovingly placed on a shelf, actually several shelves, waiting for inspiration. They are all different, lovingly bound, handmade paper, given with love, special books I have saved, too pretty, fancy, special to write lists or random thoughts in. I have hard cover sketch books and lush watercolour paper pads also waiting for me, gathering dust. It is just not fair to have a book, so hopeful at its moment of gifting, relegated to my, ‘as soon as I have time or the ‘right’ idea’ shelves.

In 2018 I have decided to use those books for any scribbles, sketches, writing and play. I will not wait to use them until I am certain I am beginning the great Canadian Novel or a poem that will change the world. Maybe while I am at it I will wear the plastic draped party dress, eat off the good china and use the special soap stored in the cupboards. I hope this will leave space for the muse to sneak in and check out my space.