In Which Ryan Achieves A Resolution
January 2025 | 6:1
Koopa and Goomba (somewhat) patiently await our return to the couch.
What's Been Happening
Happy New Year! As I write this we are still in the midst of our holiday travel, so I'm in one of my natural states of happy to see people and places but missing our cats. I don't usually do official new year's resolutions, but I definitely like the spirit of having an annual time to evaluate where you're at as a person and where you'd like to be. Without further ado and with even less forethought, here's some resolutions for myself for the new year:
Be quicker to forgive, especially myself
Make time for my own art (and actually do it rather than say I will and then feel bad for not following through)
Play with the cats more often, even if it means pausing my coffee process
Be willing to be wrong, but be willing to stick up for things I'm confident are right
Be more confident in my own assessment of value
Use my words when I want things
Don't feel bad putting things on to do lists that are achievable just to get a warm fuzzy when I do those things
Drink coffee and make bad jokes
May more of us value food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, and may the world be merrier for it,
Ryan
Chart O' The Month
At risk of making this an annual tradition, here is my chart on "Auld Lang Syne" from the Bluecoats Alumni Jazz Ensemble. Partly it's a nice reminder of that project and how well it's held up, especially as we're looking at how to finish existing projects and move on to new ideas... but if I'm honest it's mostly because I just like the chart. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Look, Nature!
This is a picture of a tree from the area of Wellington where many of the Rivendell scenes were filmed for Lord of the Rings. I don't think it featured in the movie at all, but I'm a sucker for neat roots (make your own joke about slash chords here).
Education Notes
May you return from winter break renewed and refreshed! I'm aware that that's not 100% likely, but let's still shoot for that.