The end of 2011, and I’ve definitely not been regular here! But I had a thought today that might be a good way for mothers (and other people!) to pass from one year into the next.

It’s just this question: does it matter?

I remember being a child and the wonderful feeling we got when the house was clean. Wait, you thought children didn’t care if the house was clean? Well, I can’t blame you; as soon as the floors were cleared we got a wonderful urge to… get out all our toys.

I’m glad that Mama made us clean things up; but I’m also glad she realized that wasn’t the only thing that mattered. You can always clean the floor up again later. Why not enjoy life in this moment and only stress about the stuff that really matters.

Ok, so maybe not stressing at all would be better.

Try it! Next time you’re taking life too seriously, ask yourself: does it really matter?

To feel young again
Wade barefoot in a cold creek;
Sunbathe on the bank.

It’s been one of my bad weeks, which means I’ve had plenty of time to sit around and think. Think of all the things I want to or ought to be doing, and of a dozen wonderful ideas that I would love to do someday but doubt I’ll ever have the energy for.

Limitations force creativity. This is true in most artistic endeavors. Some professional photographers occasionally shoot with a very limited camera to force themselves to focus on creative composition. Poetry, by its very nature, is all about limitations. Some of the world’s greatest composers have been blind. Today, disabled people paint beautiful pictures with their mouths, their feet.

I wish I could learn to use my physical limitations to my advantage. I wish my pain and fatigue would force me to focus on the essentials, on the things that matter, would force me to use my resources creatively and effectively. But for some reason I find the application hard to make.

Have you learned to use a limitation to expand your abilities or effectiveness? I’d love to hear about it – maybe I’ll get inspired.