Does the shift to 2009 mean anything to you?
Since I find most measurements of time to be arbitrary, placing enormous significance on the moment a clock changes seems a bit goofy to me. That does not, however, mean that I will not be out duly celebrating and partaking in the normal New Year’s debauchery. Who am I to protest a party?
It also does not mean that I will not be making resolutions. Although, I won’t be calling them that, because that seems to doom them to failure. I’ll call them something witty, like staggering schemes or my own little holy grails.
If you’ve read this blog a few times, you’ve likely noticed that I’m a change junkie. I love trying new things, testing boundaries, and crafting goals. I set new goals when I feel the urge to do so, making the new year just one more time to devise new plans. But I figure, why not?
I believe there are always new goals to set, new possibilities to try, so why not choose another one at this time of year? Having a certain day when we’re all expected to enact new resolutions can be an effective way to kick-start a reevaluation or a new habit you’ve been mulling over. On the other hand, making zealous “resolutions” simply because you feel you’re supposed to will probably backfire. Make a staggering scheme that you’re excited about. Take a new step in the trek for your own little holy grail…not someone else’s. Or, just wait until the time feels right.
For many people, this seems a fitting time to set year-long goals and review the past year. However, I find that my life does not divide neatly into 12-month blocks. Although I will be sitting down soon to write about my thoughts and motivations for the upcoming months, I will probably do the same thing a few months later, and a few months after that. Checking in on my own clock works well for me.
Creating Your Forecast
All that said, I’m feeling wonderful about all the ideas I’ve been spilling into my notebooks. I’m looking forward to nudging these ideas into action soon, endeavors both big and small. In all honesty, I get excited very easily. On a weekly basis, I come up with some new little scheme or idea that gets me giddy to think about. My latest source of excitement was external, however, and sounds slightly ridiculous. Bear with me…
As far as predictions go, I normally find horoscopes boring and insipid. But there is one horoscope I read every week, and I recently got what is quite possibly the best forecast ever. My horoscope named 2009 as the Year of the Swashbuckle (and that’s for all you other Libras too), complete with a [symbolic] superhero costume created by a top fashion designer. Magnificent! How could I not be excited?
My Mac dictionary defines “swashbuckle” as:
engage in daring and romantic adventures with ostentatious bravado or flamboyance.
OK, so “ostentatious bravado” I can do without, but I am all for the daring and romantic adventures. And if “flamboyant” implies exuberance and confidence, I won’t turn that down either.
Of course, the key to this marvelous horoscope is that I can’t sit back and wait to be anointed by the nectar of swashbucklers. I have to get my hands dirty for some swashbuckling action. That is, after all, all that horoscopes are good for: motivating you to take some risks by pointing to wonderful possibilities. Or on the contrary, discouraging you from thoughtless or unkind behavior by alluding to negative consequences.
That silly horoscope captivated me in just the right way, inspiring me to really grab hold of my staggering schemes. Sometimes we need external motivation, even if it’s seemingly silly or whimsical. Whatever works for you, whenever works.
I’m leaving you with a short video clip of the Loi Kratong festival here in Chiang Mai, celebrated on the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar. This beautiful celebration involves sending tiny banana leaf boats down the river with incense and candles to symbolize letting go of anger and tarnished feelings, to allow for new beginnings. Hot air lanterns, which you’ll see below, are floated into the air with the same idea.
I’m showing this video clip because this festival is one of the few events that has truly felt magical to me. I’m not religious, but sending those lanterns into the air was an enchanting way to motivate positive feelings of change. Again, a little external motivation — as well as demonstrating that traditional celebrations of new beginnings come at different times for different people (this was celebrated in November).
Make changes when you feel the motivation… not when you feel the obligation.
What do you think of resolutions? Do you scheme throughout the year, or just on New Year’s Eve?
Who will join me in the Year of the Swashbuckle?
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I never really take the whole “New Years Resolutions” thing seriously. Mostly because I feel like it something people do because they are supposed to, as you mentioned. This is the first time in my life, where I have goals I really want to accomplish in the upcoming year. I am still going to call them resolutions, but hopefully that will not deter me from accomplishing them.
Elyse´s last blog post..Speed-enforcement on the rise in Arizona
yes, let’s make it a swashbuckling year!
i am a planner girl (as you’ll see by the link to my most recent post), now and throughout the year. it’s the clean slate, the possibility, and the brainstorming that get me jazzed.
but, ’til now, i had not considered myself a swashbuckler. i accept the challenge; flamboyance-ness ahoy!
thanks for the very thoughtful post … fabulous wishes for a sparkling new year!
kenya´s last blog post..bright shiny year awaits … but first,
The Year of the Swashbuckle could be fun, but I’m a Sagittarius. I tend to set “new year” goals in September because I’m a public school teacher. At this point in my career, I’m experiencing a lot of challenge and change, not all of it positive. I feel like gradually easing out of the profession might be the best way to go from here.
That doesn’t sound very ostentatious, does it? No bravado here.
Daisy´s last blog post..Turkey Barley Stew
Hi, Zoe~
Great post – what I have come to expect from you. Now I know why you just seem to click w/ me – I’m a Libra born Sept. 25, 1943. Gee. I am old!
I think New Year’s resolutions carry around a lot fo suckage with them. I set goals, indeedy I do, but never make resolutions. For me, the time must be right. I also do not live my life by a calendar of any sorts, although I do find myself very affected by the seasons of the year.
Swashbuckler, indeed! Flamboyancy has been my watchword for many a year. My ex wife tells me that I grew up too fast – I went to the Nam a teenager and came back an old man, just young in years. I have always lived on the edge, because I constantly seek that adrenaline high. My bad…
I am curious as to what comments I shall be reading. A lot of good comments here – sometimes I gain more information from the comments than I do from the actual post!
Namaste,
Alden~
Alden Smith´s last blog post..Putting Things Into Perspective
Year of the Swashbuckle – count me in. The very term had me reaching for my Ogden Nash “Today I am a swashbuckler, would anybody like me to buckle my swashes?”
I’m an all year round schemer rather than a New Year’s resolution setter myself. I think I am more seasonal in my goal setting, I am a gardener and although my goals aren’t all about my garden, they just seem to flow from/with the seasons activities.
Meg´s last blog post..How Creativity can Change the World
I’m a Libra, too!!! September 30, 1967
jenx67´s last blog post..Couplings
I wonder what year it is for Geminis… Swashbuckling sounds pretty good to me, heheh. My plan is to keep my goal-setting simple. It seemed to work well last year: three writing goals, three business goals, three personal goals. And yes, they are prioritized in that order
Melissa Donovan´s last blog post..Creative Writing Tips from Around the Blogosphere
I think having archetypal images like this to inspire the energies that often lie dormant within us is an excellent way to engage with our path. Lately I’ve been ruminating on the cartographer, thinking of how many interesting folks spent time in the 1800′s as part of geological survey teams, trying to map the Earth completely for the first time with pen paper and compass. (perhaps that relates to the image they tossed in for Pisces?)
Zoe, I posted on resolutions and got a feedback summed up as “why only the new year? What’s wrong with now?”
Well, of course I agree, but like you, this is the first time I can remember being in the planning stage at the traditional time. I tend to re-evaluate as the seasons change. Not sure why, just do. Resolutions, goals, whatever you want to call them, as long as you have them, it’s all good.
May your year of the swashbuckle be a great one!
B J Keltz´s last blog post..Resolutions
@ Elyse – Truth is, if you really want to accomplish them, I doubt the word you use truly matters
@ Kenya – Your enthusiasm is contagious! I’m all for embracing those possibilities…
@ Daisy – I hope that even if it’s challenging, that these choices eventually lead to positive changes… sometimes the good is slow to pop its head through.
@ Alden – I must say that I agree about the quality of comments here — reading through them never fails to spark some new brain waves or emotions.
Happy to have another Libra on board for Year of the Swashbuckle
@ Meg – Gardening and making plans for the new year seem to reflect each other quite well. Richard Reeve (see his comment above!) wrote a lovely post about seeds in the literal and metaphorical sense: http://catskillcottageseed.com/2008/12/29/thinking-seeds/
@ Jenx67 – Hope swashbuckling sounds good to you
!
@ Melissa – I really like your idea of only making three goals in each area. Simplicity makes it much easier and more realistic to tackle…
@ Richard – You’ve eloquently expressed what I was trying to touch on. Your clarification of my ideas may inspire a new post…
I’m also very intrigued by the different maps used to reflect physical space and ideas… on a somewhat tangential note, I really enjoyed this post: http://www.austinkleon.com/2008/05/21/maps-of-fictional-worlds/
@ B J – I completely agree — if the time feels right, go for it. And though I’m not partial to using the word “resolutions”, I don’t think it really matters what you call them in the end
.
Thanks Zoe for pointing me in the direction of Richard Reeve’s blog! Much appreciated.
Meg´s last blog post..The Importance of Optimism
Resolutions, no! Goal setting, yes! I like to think in terms of commitments, occasionaly I need to readjust… fire then aim, right? I have committed to bake cookies with my son every weekend, since he was thrilled to have gifted me with cookbook of that type this Xmas. His first own original idea….cant squash that enthusiasm, so I will join the swashbuckling in my own adventure of new methods, new ingredients with relish and joyous abandon!
I don’t base setting new goals on the change from December 31st of one year to January 1st of the next. Rather, based on my spiritual beliefs, I follow the seasons. Winter is a time of death. Time to kill off unhealthy behaviours, thoughts and attitudes. A time to hibernate and reflect, and figure what ‘seeds’ I want to plant, germinate and grown in the Spring.
I love this line, “Make changes when you feel the motivation… not when you feel the obligation.”
You hit the nail on the head here. Over the course of 2008, I was so much about work that I think I lost a little of myself.
With the gift of a new camera and a newly launched website, I’ve refound myself again, so your statement above plays right into my rejuvenation of 2009. I’m definitely motivated………..:)
I hope your year of the “Swashbuckle” goes as well as I anticipate mine going………..:)
LisaNewton´s last blog post..It’s Time to do the Laundry
Swashbuckle is a sixteenth century term meaning rough, noisy, boastful swordsmen with “staggering schemes” and “holy grails.” Love your metaphors.
My year will be slaying misconceptions and falsehoods and pursuing passionate enterprises.
Happy New Year!
Paul C´s last blog post..Heirloom Discoveries and Treasures
@ Trina – Commitments is a good way to think about it — so it aligns with our values. Sounds like you have delicious goals in store!
@ Urban Panther – Ooh, I really like your thinking! Doing it in stages probably flows more organically.
@ Lisa – So glad to hear you’re taking new steps… rejuvenation is wonderful at all times of the year
@ Paul – You’ve taken on the metaphors well — passionate enterprises indeed! I love the enthusiasm swashbuckling sparks.
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