One More Year
The following is from the last verse of Tame Impala's “One More Year":
We got a whole year
(One more year) Fifty-two weeks
Seven days each
(One more year) Four seasons, one reason
The sentiment that Kevin Parker expresses in this song is how all of us feel just after the clock strikes 12 on January 1st. A sense of eternal optimism for the year to come. At the start of the year though, there wasn't much on the cards, except for a 12 day trip to Italy in September. But a moment of serendipity would set the course for the rest of this year.
It was a particular day in the first week of January. I brought up my sister's mail and I spied with my little eye, a copy of Cathy Heller's book, “Don't Keep Your Day. As I peered through the book, it spoke to me, enough to give the podcast of the same name a listen. She was running a five day challenge. I'd figure it was worth a try. And as that week went by, the sense of possibility opened up. I had to fight my inner resistance to sign up for her signature program, Made To Do This. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
And for the first nine weeks, it was a struggle as I didn't know what my thing was. But it came together during a coaching call with Cathy the night of March 22nd, and I nearly ran away from the opportunity. The mantra came in the course of the call, Words Are Art. At 10pm, it was clear that magic had struck.
Later that same week, I would be furloughed from my job. I wouldn't log back into Outlook for the next 3 1/2 months.
But the change in circumstances became a blessing in disguise. I had the time to write as I looked to come up with something to show for all the time and efforts of the last 12 weeks. I posted to the group and my friend Kelly Simmons mentioned Inch Magazine from Bull City Press. By chance, they were seeking submissions for their next edition. I hastily created a manuscript of a dozen poems to submit. But I was still determined to create something and the other respondent to my message, Jenniffer Rivera was willing to help me out.
As the summer months wore on, my book took shape. And another opportunity arose. The Italy trip was cancelled due to the pandemic but I channeled the sadness into the piece, “An American Tourist In Italy". I submitted it for my colleague Jennifer Chambers literary anthology, Groundwaters. To my surprise, my piece was accepted for the anthology.
A Poetic Journey, Staying At Home was completed and the book, along with my new website launched on October 27th. To see all the love and support stemming from the release was overwhelming. The expectations were so low, that I would be happy if one copy was bought. Each time that I turn back and see the promo poster behind me in my room, I feel the sense of accomplishment. As my friend Erin Dansevicus put it in the poem she wrote for me, the poetic journey is only just beginning.
I couldn't have made it through this year without the Made To Do This group and the offshoot Still Made To Do This and the mastermind Ready To Do This. I couldn't have done this without the accountability pod The Heller's Angels, led by my good friend Wendy Harrop. This story would've been different if I didn't continue on past April when the program came to an end. Everyone that I've met along the way has made this year sparkle like the silver ornament in the photo accompanying this post.
2020 was an unexpected blessing amongst all the sorrow. I hope to publish my second book in paperback by next fall. Hopefully, I'll be able to make my next move job-wise after so many years. And possibly, rebook my trip to Italy. After that, the future is unwritten.
I want to wish everyone that reads this and everyone that you love, a Happy New Year!
As is tradition, I close the year in review with the words of Stephen Sondheim's 1971 musical “Follies” and the last verse of the song, “I'm Still Here":
I've run the gamut, A to Z
Three cheers and dammit, C'est la vie
I got through all of last year, and I'm here
Lord knows, at least I was there, and I'm here
Look who's here, I'm still here
