wishes on a one way street: forward

            I wish this for myself as much as I wish it for you: I wish we did more before we were ready.  I wish we would all stop trying so hard to be something and instead start doing something. Instead of waiting for the opportunity that “fits us”, I wish we’d pull on a pair of gloves and get to work. Instead of judging her because of her beliefs, I wish we’d go up and talk to her with the confidence that she has something to teach us. I wish we would walk into the conversation that makes us uncomfortable.  I wish we would question what they tell us and do the research ourselves and figure out where we stand and I wish we would make a decision.  I wish the popularity of an opinion did not dictate whether or not it is ours. I wish we acknowledged that admitting you are wrong is not always a sign of weakness but often a sign of wisdom.  I wish we would not be so afraid of being wrong that we don’t ever believe we’re right.  

New Year Rulin's

From Woody Guthrie's journal, January 1st 1943

            I stumbled upon this list of New Year’s Resolutions from 1943, penned by the folk musician, Woody Guthrie when he was just thirty years old.   The list is composed not only in absolute earnest, but it is ripe with wisdom and humanity.  Woody Guthrie's resolutions encompass a philosophy we should all adhere to.  It is okay to want creature comforts; to want to eat good and dream good, and this list instills my resolve to continue to appreciate the small things- from the habitual process of making a hot cup of coffee to relishing my dad’s many stories about growing up in New York.  On the other hand, life can’t solely be about making oneself happy- it’s time to work more and better.  A lot of young adults growing up in middle class America glide through their twenties like they're on a joyride.  Have fun now because soon you'll be old and grey and bogged down with responsibility.  We often don’t make up our minds on important issues or stand behind our beliefs unless it’s something that is directly going to benefit us.   If we have strong personal opinions on anything, it’s the latest Radiohead album, and many of our debates revolve around who should go out and buy the pizza or whether or not SNL is worth watching anymore.  So although I admit I am going to continue to try and play and sing good and read lots of good books, Mr. Guthrie has also inspired me to make sure I love everybody- not just the people who make it easy and love me in return.  In 2012 I want to learn people better and I want to strive to live life for something beyond myself, in fact I'm beginning to realize that that is the best way to truly stay glad.  I challenge you to join me, because it’s never too late to wake up and fight.