Comments on: The Year of the Swashbuckle

By: Essential Prose | Zoë Westhof | On Focus, and the Influence of Saturn — Essential Prose

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:52:44 +0000

[...] process of reflection at this time of year. As much as the transition into a new year may feel like an arbitrary measure of time, the urge to reflect upon the past and envision a future seems to seep in from all sides. The [...]

By: Zoë

Zoë — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:26:52 +0000

@ 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.

By: Paul C

Paul C — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:33:32 +0000

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

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:03:09 +0000

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

By: Urban Panther

Urban Panther — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:53:54 +0000

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.

By: Trina

Trina — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:00:49 +0000

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!

By: 13 Writing Goals for 2009 « The Sky’s the Limit

13 Writing Goals for 2009 « The Sky’s the Limit — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:31:32 +0000

[...] 1, 2009 · No Comments This is a year of opportunity. (Zoe Westof calls it The Year of the Swashbuckle.) I foresee amazing things for [...]

By: Meg

Meg — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:51:41 +0000

Thanks Zoe for pointing me in the direction of Richard Reeve's blog! Much appreciated. Meg´s last blog post..The Importance of Optimism

By: Zoë

Zoë — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:08:26 +0000

@ 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 .

By: Zoë

Zoë — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:47:12 +0000

@ 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/