A New Soul

The first part of this G.K. Chesterton quote was making the rounds on the Internet this past weekend:

The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul.

Here's the whole quote:

“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”
- G.K. Chesterton

If you really like the quote, join the society. That said, I'm in agreement. The slowdown for the past ten days whether you traveled, were snowed in or just hung with the family is a time for reflection on the year gone by and projection onto the year ahead.

2010 was a tough year, losing a mother and two friends, working extremely hard in business and with family, but on the flip side I bought my first electric guitar, played every night since and wrote eight songs along the way. And then I kept this blog going, albeit instituting Friday and Saturday nights off.

Looking ahead I hope for a combination of engagement and peace, if that makes any sense. I want a growth year, no matter how it happens. Having learned so much over the past several years, one hopes for something more than a New Year's resolution. One hope to have evolved, positive direction, maybe that new soul Chesterton prescribes.

Fresh, at all costs.