Ever since a coworker mentioned Mrs. Sundberg's approach to the New Year's Resolution quandry, I've been thinking about it. She writes,
Instead of making a New Year's Resolution, I pick a word I want to make more a part of my life, and I chose the word "peace" one year. I read books about it, I talked about it, I researched it, I meditated upon it. Did all I could to make "peace" a bigger part of my life.
That's really appealing. In our household there have been a few words tossed about including recognition, risk and completion. Right now grace and why are in the finals. Grace may win out, because why can take a lifetime - and my family might strongly prefer I didn't set aside my let-it-be ness and pick up such a delicate and deep word.
Setting aside that depth, this week's show looks like fun:
This week on A Prairie Home Companion, it's our Second Annual Year-End Rewind with a compilation of 2008's memorable moments. We'll revisit the debuts of Nick Lowe, Nellie McKay and tenor Raúl Melo. Yo-Yo Ma will toast the New Year, Martin Sheen will take on the role of James Joyce in an episode of The Lives of the Cowboys, and Brad Paisley sings a tune about leaving the toilet seat down. Guy Noir goes on Pope Patrol during the April 2008 papal visit to New York, and Ruth Harrison turns down a chance to sail the globe with a swarthy romance novelist. All that, plus we remember the Tollerud's trip to Costa Rica.
Maybe I should have said that sounds good. Anyway, you don't have to listen to hear. Care to join the resolute? Weigh in right here in the comments.
* Keillor's New Year's resolution is: "Do it better." Read more about that.
* The View from Mrs. Sundberg's Window
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Julia Schrenkler
Interactive Producer
Minnesota Public Radio
American Public Media
Objects in Mirror
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Comments: 18
Thank you for sharing this, it's interesting.
Word of the Year 2009: The Group
I just hope.
I hope I lose a bit more weight.
I hope I'll stay a bit more healthy.
I hope my kid, his wife and grand kids are also healthy through 2009.
I hope all our financial needs will also be able to be met.
I also hope the dogs and cats will be fine.
Hope is about all I can muster in these trying times.
I don’t hope for peace as there in no reason to do so. However, I do hope for understanding, communication, acceptance of grievances, and justice.
Hope is a mighty fine focus, Richard. You're not alone in holding hope close.
Listening gets a rather bad rap as a passive approach in such dynamic times but I feel there's far too little active listening going on in the world. Figure I'll practice up. One start will be finding
A Writer's Almanac on Public Radio. I get the E-mail version and read it faithfully, generally around midnight, for a final round of good thoughts geared towards exploration the following day.
But I want to listen to GK's inflecton. Especially now that I have a visual of his speaking style. My son and I were able to attend the wonderful Dec. 27, '08 performance of PHC at Town Hall, NYC. Putting our ever so familiar favorite word smith with the figure on stage that we were enjoying was not only a kick but a little mind boggling!
Yes, LISTEN is my January, '09 word.
Thanks for the posting Julia,
Adrian
PS Now if I could only listen to Mrs. Sundberg. I could visit with her daily!
I chose a word a week during Advent, and have been meditating on a word a day so far during, planning to do that through the time between Christmas and the octave of Epiphany. Think I may do word for season in 2009. words during this Advent/Christmastide have included peace, rest, love, justice, forgiveness, light, shadow, connection, and grace... and when it's seemed right, also just the name of a friend.
I'll have to go check out that group. and grace is a really good word.
Very cool of you to share your writing and writing processes with us, Gretchen.
Adrian, you're inspiring a fresh line of thought around here. I like that idea immensely - there are so many things to experience in life, why not rotate words more frequently? Or tie them to a one word value...words have relationships too.
*sigh* You have such a way with life, Kerry. Will you post about your words (and perhaps point to music that shares the value) here on Gather?
The poems shared on Dec 31 stopped my heart and I love following up on Garrison's literary suggestions but feel even more inclined hearing his enthusiasm shared. He's keeping my circle ever widening.
Also Gal, Objects In The Mirror is a really fine resource. Thanks for such a wonderful effort.
My best to Mrs. S.
Adrian
that's a good idea. while I'm thinking about writing that, I'd point you to recent stories I've done on Carrie Newcomer and Gretchen Peters. they both have a lot to say on those ideas.
happy new year.
Kerry, I'll check them out!
I read a ton, but I want to be more intentional and focused on reading works that will improve my life.
Curious: How do you define a work that improves your life? Obviously there's no wrong answer, but I'm intrigued.
I hesitate to list titles, but for instance, reading books about Professor Poopy Pants and the Bionic Boogers to my son has value. Reading poetry by Robert Frost (one of the books he received for Christmas) and fiction by Laura Ingalls Wilder improves my life--and his--with greater certainty.
For me, I plan to read The Sun, in fact, maybe I'll subscribe as a gift to myself for my birthday. And The Atlantic. I've Edgar Sawtelle on my shelf as well as the poetry of Jude Nutter and Mary Oliver.
read-read-read
Mary Oliver is wonderful Susan. And what of Wendell Berry?
Again, I'm so tickled to be touching base with readers and writers.
Thank you,
Adrian