Awaiting another voice

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice. - T.S. Eliot

I always enjoy the first few days of the year. Much like the childhood joy of receiving your new school books for the year, untouched, unlearned and unmarked, the joy for me lies in the opportunities presented. As I get older, it become more difficult to shake off the ghostly reminders of mistakes made and chances not taken, and yet somehow, the blank slate that comes with the turning of the calender page removes the regret associated and allows us to begin anew.

I do not want to write one more top ten/best of 2011/highlights blogs to add to the already unreadable pile. I think the writing of said blogs is not for the reader, but for the writer, to punctuate their years work and to give a form of finality in an anonymous and perpetually cyclical digital world. We need markers as humans, something to tether ourselves to, to give us a sense of meaning. For many, we grab too greedily for these markers, not fully comprehending what they mean, whether they are right for us, blinded by the need to define our identities. I am guilty of this. Endlessly trying on different ideas as if they were costumes, trying to find one, sole answer.

So here is my resolution. I am not afraid to tread water. Treading water is a consequence of open water swimming and is hard, tiring and can let you easily lose track of the horizon. You feel like you are going nowhere, and guess what? You aren't, not really. Yet it is a skill, when mastered, that can keep your head above water, let you properly explore the depths below and above, let you catch your breath and give you strength to go confidently in the direction of your proverbial dreams. Fear of the unknown, of the horizon, of your lack of courage or swimming ability can lead you to grasping at any passing floating salvation, even though it may be at odds with your inner monologue.

Therefore I am dispensing with fear and am going to keep my legs moving. I am not afraid to be wrong, but I will choose carefully what I buy into. I will take my time and develop my own thoughts instead of lazily adopting others'. I am going to write more, play more, see more, hear more (a lot more), read everything thing I can get my little hands on (they are ridiculously small) and try my best to become a learned deep water swimmer. I don't know what island I'm heading for, what is on the horizon or if there is a friendly tall ship coming to get me, and honestly, I don't care.

Here is to a rock and roll 2012.

-------

(Thanks for allowing my slight, on-topic digression. Music tidbits and hobnobs next. Happy new ears everybody, and to all a good book.)