On the Cusp
This period between Christmas and New Years always feels strange to me. I'm exhausted from all the family and celebration and food and spending and giving and getting. It's fun done at warp speed. Nerves are a bit frazzled, though. Those family members I was happy to see, I don't miss yet, now that they are gone. Those family members living under the same roof are just as exhausted and, possibly, even crazier than I am. (I won't go into detail.)
I don't feel like doing much, but I do have one thing on my mind: I am looking forward to something better. I am looking forward to a better year. I am looking forward to better relationships. I am simply looking forward.
I have hope that I will find the energy to work harder at marketing and selling my book, Worlds Apart. I spent five years writing it. It was published by RFI West in 2001. Within a year, they were out of business and they never paid me a dime or even sent me a statement as to how many books were sold. I know some were sold, because I had family who bought copies. The publisher just stopped existing.
But I am looking forward, because what happened eight years ago has no bearing on what will happen in 2010. Unless I let it.
Those of you who have bought the book, I appreciate your support. I see writing as an art, an expression of myself. Art is to be experienced by others or it is not art; it is only an activity. I don't write just to have something to do. I write because I have to. There's no gun at my head, but there may as well be.
So, this night, I'm feeling on the cusp of my own future. As the New Year creeps up on us this week, let's be glad in it. Cusps are a good thing. It is the transition between that which was and that which will be. Without a cusp, we don't have hope.
Happy New Year.
I don't feel like doing much, but I do have one thing on my mind: I am looking forward to something better. I am looking forward to a better year. I am looking forward to better relationships. I am simply looking forward.
I have hope that I will find the energy to work harder at marketing and selling my book, Worlds Apart. I spent five years writing it. It was published by RFI West in 2001. Within a year, they were out of business and they never paid me a dime or even sent me a statement as to how many books were sold. I know some were sold, because I had family who bought copies. The publisher just stopped existing.
But I am looking forward, because what happened eight years ago has no bearing on what will happen in 2010. Unless I let it.
Those of you who have bought the book, I appreciate your support. I see writing as an art, an expression of myself. Art is to be experienced by others or it is not art; it is only an activity. I don't write just to have something to do. I write because I have to. There's no gun at my head, but there may as well be.
So, this night, I'm feeling on the cusp of my own future. As the New Year creeps up on us this week, let's be glad in it. Cusps are a good thing. It is the transition between that which was and that which will be. Without a cusp, we don't have hope.
Happy New Year.
I once realized that New Year's is an unusual holiday.
It doesn't celebrate a political event, or famous people in this country (or other countries). It doesn't celebrate religious events or people in any religion.
Schools, businesses, and even our government have differing ideas about whether to honor a given holiday, but just about everyone is closed for New Year's Day.
Maybe because it's not a political or religious holiday that we can all agree on it without friction -- the beginning of a New Year.
Sort of like the spontaneous potlucks my company has once in a while. Why? Because it's Friday!
Happy Cusp Day, Tom!
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In my novel, Worlds Apart, the main character, Matt, has a brother, Mark, who every so often goes into a dark closet, closes the door, let's his mind clear, then says, "Starting right now!" And then he burstsout refreshed and cleans his room, re-folds cloths, does his homework, re-organizes the garage, and a long, long list of other things, including personal hygiene stuff. It's his way of putting everything that bothers him behind and turning forward with a clear path before him...until it gets cluttered again. New Years Day is our communal "Starting right now!"
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