A New Year

J. and me, slightly wet, in the rift between continental plates at Thingvellir, Iceland: another moment of looking in two directions.

Well, here we are, a dozen years after the start of the new millenium. That's almost as hard to imagine as the fact that I'll celebrate my 60th birthday in 2012. I don't understand how time passes so quickly: neither the minutes in an hour nor the years that pile up into decades and, astoundingly, half-centuries. I find myself pondering the rushing water of time more often these days, but I'm also reminded of that old James Taylor song: "the secret of life/is enjoying the passing of time." I'm not sure it's the whole secret, but it's certainly part of it.

Like Janus I'm looking backward at the year just past and looking forward with anticipation and hopefulness to 2012. The Arab spring and the Occupy movement were hopeful signs in a world rife with problems; closer to home I feel good about being part of a new social justice initiative at our cathedral.

I'm glad that, for the most part, my family and friends are healthy and doing well; my dad, at 87, continues to inspire me to keep moving, busy, and looking forward: he is a remarkable example of what daily exercise and activity can do for health. I'm proud of many of friends, like V. who not only made her weight-loss goal this year but has made great strides in organizing her life and working toward other goals. My sister-in-law has been starting a whole new chapter in her life, spending a sabbatical year in Beirut studying Arabic and reconnecting to her family roots -- how admirable and exciting! J. has worked very hard on a book of photographs that will be published by Phoenicia later in 2012, wth essays from invited guest contributors and edited by me; I can't wait to help him share that with the world...

I'm grateful for new and deeper friendship with a number of people, aided both by correspondence and by our wonderful trip this year to Iceland and London. The fact that we have a bit more time now and have settled in, finally, to our new life in Montreal, means more energy and time for other people as well as for our own art, and that feels good. We also had a short but happy trip to Florida to visit family last March, and a great trip to New York to visit friends and be present at the launch of Teju Cole's Open City.

J. and Aunt MaryAnne picking grapefruits in Florida

We've loved having Manon, the beautiful calico, come into our lives, and hope she's as happy to be living with us as we are to have her with us! I learn a lot from her non-human presence; she's a comfort and a joy.

It was a rewarding and memorable year for me on the art front, where I began making relief prints again and have steadily worked on drawings, many of which you've seen here. And I'm now pursuing a long-form project which has finally gotten me out of the funk I was in about writing something substantial. More about that eventually.

It was an intense year of making music with my choir, of progressing as a musician, of gaining confidence: it really helps to be singing with some of the city's top professionals. My sight-reading, which is pretty good, went up a notch; I learned more about some of my weaknesses and tried to work on them; and got better at reading plainchant, something that has bugged me ever since I joined the choir. I haven't played the piano nearly as much as I'd like, so that's definitely something to try to make room for next year. I love how in the arts you can always, always improve.

Finally, it was a huge pleasure to work with other writers and artists on various internet-based projects, and especially at qarrtiluni, where we had another successful chapbook contest this past summer, and at my small press, Phoenicia Publishing, where I'm very proud of the books we published in 2011.

Spiritually, artistically, and emotionally it was a year of a certain amount of struggle, some of which has been expressed here and some of which remains personal and private. A lot of that has had to do with coming to terms with things I don't like at all but can't change: getting older, mortality, certain limits that time places upon us. I found sustenance in reading, talking, writing; in the love of my husband and close friends; the natural world, music and art, retreat and meditation; and the fact that I know it's a process, not a destination. The best help is staying in the moment, keeping busy, loving life and people, and finding things to work hard on and look forward to. Like everyone, I have my difficult moments, but I'm awfully glad to be here today, looking ahead to tomorrow.

---

January brings a new River of Stones challenge. Last year I took part, writing a small observation every day. This year I think making that commitment would cut into the time I've allotted for my own writing project too much, but through themonth I'm going to be looking for "found" stones: short poems or quotes to share. Yesterday I found "An Anthology of World Poetry" on my shelves - this volume, published in 1928, belonged to my great-aunt Inez, and was edited by Mark Van Doren, a close friend of Thomas Merton from their Columbia University days. So here is my first "found" small stone, from that book and 9th century Japan:

The beloved person must I think
Have entered
The summer mountain:
For the cuckoo is singing
With a louder note.

 

Happy New Year to all!

Comments

[Fiona Robyn]

Love the found small stone, Beth. Happy New Year!

[Dale Favier]

Happy New Year dear Beth!

[Lorianne]

I love this reflection on the turning year, Beth. Here's to health, hope, and happiness in 2012!

[Lucy]

Happy New Year, Beth. Your energy and achievements are inspiring and impressive, howsoever!

[Marja-Leena]

Love your musings on the past year's achievements and future hopes. Yes, as Lucy said! Happy New Year, Beth and J!

[Robert]

Wishing you peace, health and happiness, Beth, in 2012.

[Uma]

Happy new year, dear Beth!

[rr]

Dear Beth, may you have a wonderfully creative and fulfilling year, and thank you for everything you do and share!

[Lilian Nattel]

Your spirit is younger--I pegged you at around 45 based on your posts. I met a woman in PEI whose house I sat some years ago when she had just turned 60 and was going on a big trip. She said that she loved being 60, that she felt more comfortable in her skin than ever. That has inspired me ever since. Looking forward to your art and thoughts in 2012.

[Jean]

Thanks, and a wonderful New Year to you too!

[Natalie]

Terrific photo of you and Jonathan on another planet, Beth! A very happy New Year to you both and may your voyages into inner and outer space soar ever deeper and closer.

[marly youmans]

Like this glance back--and so glad I met you in the flesh at last in the past year!

[אנטי אייג'ינג]

Amazing pictures shared by you here. I like all. I like your spiritual power in this age. It inspire me to do such adventure. I like specially the sketch of cat. Thanks for sharing this information with us.