I am quite excited! Firstly, because I am back to writing and blogging after a two week break. I feel rested, chocolatey and full of words.Secondly, because I have a new diary. It is completely empty. Untouched by ink or lead. Its crisp, clear, white sheets cry out to me, “Fill me in. Scribble on me. Mess me up”. I love it!
I have always thought there is something wonderful about a new diary. I sit and flick through the pages; weeks, months, an entire year full of….nothing. Yet. No appointments. No deadlines. No lists of jobs to get done in the house (one can always hope!). No hastily scribbled notes. No birthday parties to attend. No reminders. Nothing.
I will check what day of the week my birthday falls on this year (a Sunday as it happens). I’ll circle all the important annual dates in our lives and then I will put my pen down, because apart from these dates, and the fact that my eldest son will start school in September (I’ll deal with that one later!), I have, at this precise moment, absolutely no idea what we will be doing, where we will be going or what I will need to remember to take with us on the other days of this year. And I really like that.
I look forward to filling those pages with the stuff of our family life as it happens. As with most years, there will inevitably be a few reasons to write on those pages with sadness, or with a tinge of worry, anger or frustration. But I also hope that I will have many, many reasons to add events to be celebrated and commemorated, reasons to congratulate and cheer, occasions to jump for joy and dance around the kitchen.
To some, empty pages are the work of the devil, nagging at you to be filled in when you can find nothing of worth, interest or importance to fill them in with. To me, these empty pages are full of potential and hope for me and my family and friends. What better way to kick off a brand new year and a brand new decade.
Empty pages watch out. I’m coming to get you.
I am such a stationery saddo, but I have moved to academic year calenders and diaries!!! What with MiniMad starting school last year, it enables me to keep on track with all the holidays
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. My diary is also empty for the foreseeable future - a strange feeling, as I've been busy ever since we moved in May last year. But as you say, full of potential and hope.
ReplyDeleteWith an electronic diary, there are never any empty pages, and I'm ashamed to say I've already got plenty of events clouding the horizon for 2010. But I like the sense of new beginnings, endless possibilities. Whatever fills the pages, have a great year Hazel!
ReplyDeleteI sat with my new diary just last night and it feels equally as good to see all the dates written in! My January looks good already!! The empty diary phenomenon reminds me of the book 'the owl who was afraid of the dark' - some love the dark because it hides their insecurities and frailties, others hate it because it hides the great unknown. x
ReplyDeleteI get this thrill in September with a 15 month calendar - at least it means that right about now I have actually remembered to write down when term restarts !
ReplyDeleteOh, I know exactly what you mean about those empty pages. I've filled in some dates in January and already the magic of that pure, unadulterated potntial - both scary and exciting - has somewhat been spoilt. That's what is special about this time - it's such a time of possibility. I hope lots of good things happen to you this year, and you fill those pages well.
ReplyDeleteLovely post... and what a wonderful feeling it is to not know what fabulous things are yet to unfold and instead only wonder... I hope 2010 is a year filled with lots of fabulous things for you to write about :-) x
ReplyDeleteLike The Madhouse, I am a stationary saddo. I love the smell of new books, notepads, diaries, calendars...anything I can then grafitti my way through... New Years are great.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I feel the same about blank writing journals. I deliberately buy pretty journals with lined pages and sit there with an equally pretty pen, and then I write. I'm planning to that this year. My novel is 32,000 words so fat but I haven't writeen anything for about 4 months. Writing this fills me with excitement again, so thanks for your inspirational post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice feeling - very exciting! I haven't even bought a diary or calendar yet (I normally get given them at Christmas). When I do get one it will be filled with what the children are doing (have got one starting school in Sept too!). Maybe there'll be one or two entries for me one day.
ReplyDeleteA new blank diary is such a fab feeling. Transfering dates from one diary to the other is a new years day tradition of mine.
ReplyDeleteI have 3 diaries on the go this year, my work one, my personal one and then one full of my numerous medical appointments so that I am not scarmbling through pages when questioned by various doctors.
Yes, here's to a new year and an empty diary. Actually, I wouldn't mind if mine stayed free of appointments!
ReplyDeleteempty diaries, empty notebooks, they are so exciting, so full of possibilities and what might be's.
ReplyDeleteGives me a warm feeling in my tummy just thinking about it.