13 in 2011: The Go Anywhere Bus
1. When it comes to New Year’s I’ve been a “bah humbug” this year. Only this line, posted by my brother on Facebook, gave me some relief: Every new year people make resolutions to change aspects of themselves they believe are negative. A majority of people revert back to how they were before and feel like failures. This year I challenge you to a new resolution. I challenge you to just be yourself. ~Aisha Elderwyn
2. Joe, who was out of town leading a teen meditation retreat, called me New Year’s Eve to see how I was doing. I told him I was in a funk but not to worry, “The difference between a poet and a Buddhist is that a poet doesn’t mind suffering,” I said.
3. It’s not my job to transcend darkness and depression but to meet it and to know it on its own terms, keeping in mind that darkness may be what I’m feeling but it is not what I am.
4. Snowmen look like ghosts.
5. New Year’s date: 1/1/11
6. The only New Year’s resolution I’ve come up with so far is to stand up straight and resist the urge to lean against the sink when I’m combing my hair, putting on make-up or brushing my teeth, which is a development I’ve only recently noticed I’ve been doing.
7. There are many reasons that I’m having trouble getting psyched about 2011. This is just one: “The country was bought. I learned when I was in social studies class in school that corporate ownership or corporate control of government is called Fascism. So that’s really the question — is that the destination if this court decision goes unchecked?” ~ Representative John Hall, outgoing member of Congress, on allowing corporations to anonymously funnel unlimited amounts of cash into political elections. More HERE.
8. Part 2 of number 7 is that: Republicans are telling Americans a Big Lie, and Obama and the Democrats are letting them. The Big Lie is our economic problems are due to a government that’s too large, and therefore the solution is to shrink it. The truth is our economic problems stem from the biggest concentration of income and wealth at the top since 1928, combined with stagnant incomes for most of the rest of us. More by Richard Reich HERE.
9. While doing an interview with a local artist I realized that I didn’t know my art mediums like the young check-out kids at the grocery store don’t know the difference between collards and turnip greens.
10. One of my niece’s commented on Facebook after partying for New Year’s Eve, “I’m so close to my bottle of Ibuprofen this morning that I gave it a nickname.
11. I knew I wanted to save THIS blogger’s link when I read, “My favorite color is sunset” on her site.
12. Sometimes my poetry reseeds itself online. At least SHE credited me.
13. If I wish you a Happy New Year in the year 2041 I’m afraid I might look like THIS.
More 13 Thursday participants HERE.
January 6th, 2011 1:26 am
Re #7: “Bought” is right. That was one of the worst court decisions ever. People have a right and should know who is funding advertising for and supporting politcal parties.
January 6th, 2011 8:30 am
#8 is right on the money! The public has been snowed and apparently will never lift their heads to see the truth.
January 6th, 2011 8:38 am
This is stunning…I have been working on a Thurs. 13 and now I am ashamed to publish it. I also reseeded your #8 on FB but did not credit you due to my wanting to remain anonymous here.
January 6th, 2011 9:09 am
I agree with all of this. And I think you look pretty good for 80!! xox
January 6th, 2011 9:40 am
Sherry, that was 90! I pressed the 30 year one because the 20 year one didn’t look old enough!
January 6th, 2011 11:11 am
I’m not excited about the new year, either, but I wish you a wonderful one anyway! I hope that 2011 brings love, adventure, and joy into your life. 🙂
January 6th, 2011 11:51 am
A new year, to me, is not really a big deal. Why not make changes when the need arises instead of just when the new year rolls around. That’s my feeling.
January 6th, 2011 11:56 am
7 & 8, enough said!
Hugs and Happy TT,
~Xakara
13 New Year’s Goals
January 6th, 2011 1:48 pm
Your lists are always so thought provoking. I love the quote in #1.
Happy TT!
January 6th, 2011 1:55 pm
Great list. Interesting #8 and a scary one.
January 6th, 2011 2:38 pm
#13 was a little scary!!! And #4 made me smile 🙂
January 6th, 2011 3:53 pm
Wow, sunset is the perfect color.
I have to say I’m glad I live in New Zealand 🙂
January 6th, 2011 9:02 pm
Great list — and #8 is spot on correct. I wonder how long it will be until everyone realizes.
January 7th, 2011 12:12 am
You are brave to do that picture… not bad though. I doubt I’ll be here in 2041… not sure I want to be here in 2041.
January 7th, 2011 12:39 am
They forgot to white the hair. I wonder how many were brave enough to try it.
January 7th, 2011 1:46 pm
Love the Elderwyn quote.
2. read this one? http://www.theonion.com/articles/im-only-really-happy-when-im-writing-or-when-im-ha,18726/
3. a good understanding. depression can use a bit of distance of irony, black humour, or patronizing indulgence. with more years it gets harder for me to respect my depression and nod earnestly. acknowledge but the child can’t trump all all the time.
8. what about funding siphoning to military and for profit organizations isntead of social programs where improved health and chances would kickstart the economy?
January 8th, 2011 2:13 pm
I don’t want to see what I eill look like in twenty years—I’m already hsaving trouble with tight now! (lol)
The state of our country is soooo deeply depressing, I just cannot bear it. One feels so HELPLESS in the face of the Republicans who do not care about ‘the people’…!