Eve of The Eve

At the moment I am feeling worn out, let me just say that right off the bat.  But I am also smiling because I was given the most divine of treasures over the weekend, which was a huge block of time spent on the couch, continuing to devour Journal of a Solitude, taking notes, scribbling thoughts, and pondering the new year.  Aside from this respite, small but strangely gratifying tasks have been taking place since Christmas - cleaning out the refrigerator, packing up the decorations, sending off thank you notes, clearing old photos from of my hard drive...organizing, stowing away, dusting and sweeping, all done in service to my desire for a clean slate come January 1, 2009.  It is the same dream most of us are now dreaming - that magical uncertainty that a new year always offers us, inspiring us to clear away the cobwebs in order to let as much light stream in as possible.

I believe I will never walk a day on this earth without feeling like I need to continue simplifying my life, and this is what I am thinking about as the new year approaches.  This little blog of mine is one tiny corner of my life, but I've decided to make some simplifications here.  I have a strong sensitivity to things feeling crowded and cluttered in my environment and my blog was beginning to feel a tad overstuffed.  So I cleared out almost everything and I'll see if anything begs to be brought back into the fray.

I hope everyone is able to take a moment on the grandest of all eves and envision what you want for your life in 2009.  It all starts with one idea and the commitment to making it real....one thought, one wild imagining, and the world is suddenly lifted.

Comments

[Di]

Oh, how challenging I found your last paragraph ... challenging in the best possible way. Thank you.

All the very best things in 2009.

[Marianne]

Thanks for all the wise words and beautiful thoughts that you have shared with us over the years.Words and thoughts that make us smile, think, laugh, ponder and wonder... Thank you, I always love coming to your blog, simplified or not.
Best wishes for a healthy and creative, swirly 2009!

[lisa]

happy new year to you swirly girl. thank you for your brilliant words that make me smile and think.

[Gypsy Alex]

Yay! I had a clean up session over here at home and in the blog as well! My dearest, I'm thinking of you and wishing you all the best mostest happiness! I am also wishing more of you in my 2009. I just can't get enough! :)

[Liz]

I have oh so many dreams and thoughts for 2009... here's to everyone getting their own special wishes come true, and to you dearest and most wonderful Christine, aka La Swirly, a happy of all happiest new years to you! xoL

[Susannah]

i have a bundle of books i'm going to sink into this evening, as i welcome the new year with candles and music. I love the new clean simplicity of your blog, doll, and how much you mean to me... that never changes. Happy new year! x

[Tara Bradford]

That last sentence is so important! And I, too, am going through the tasks of decluttering my life as much as possible. Wishing you a happy, healthy, prosperous and creative new year, Christine. Am so happy to have met you in 2008 and brought home your gorgeous painting (and later, other art and your wonderful book). xo

[kristen]

coming out of lurkdom to say, that simplicity has been so important to me in 2008, especially in the later part of this year.

i've been purging and simplifying all aspects of my life and while it's been messy and a little painful, with each simplification, i breathe a little easier and feel a little more calm.

happy new years eve! thank you for this post.

[ms.conley]

oh..my darling friend...i love yah....wishing you the most wonderful and amazing New Year a girl could dream of......mmmm XOXO

[Christina]

Again, I would so like to pick a copy of this book up. Maybe I will treat myself and ring in the new year turning the pages. : )

A simply beautiful new year to you, sweetie. ; )

[Trish]

Sweet Christine,

I heart the clean, clear simplicity of your updated blog and your concise words. I'm entering the same arena of simplifying and letting go of what I don't *love*. Less is becoming more to me. As soon as my computer is fixed I will send you the beautiful Squam photos.

Much love, Trish

[shelly]

Happy New Year!

[Steph]

I enjoy your writing and look forward to more words spurred by Journal of a Solitude. My sister gifted me her copy of that book when I set out on my own a few years ago and I savoured it. Maybe it's time for a second read ...

I wish you a happy, simple, peaceful, joyful 2009. :)

[darlene]

it was last january when i tore down my old cluttered blog and started a nice simple clean one ~ the older i get, the easier i am finding the simplification process but i have miles and miles to go i think ... thanks for the reminder :)