Today, as we contemplate not only the dawning of a new year, but of a new decade, I am reminded of the words a friend once scrawled in sidewalk chalk in front of my car nearly a decade ago--"Simplify, Simplify."
The quote, I learned, is attributed to Henry David Thoreau. If you aren't familiar with his works, I highly recommend him. Though he lived more than a century ago, it is intriguing (and perhaps a bit sobering) to see how our society and our country still struggles with many of the same issues today. He has many interesting thoughts (i.e. "What's the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?"), but on this day I find that most simplistic observation of his particularly noteworthy.
Legislation hundreds of pages long? Simplify, simplify.
Airports that bemoan a lack of funds for high tech security scanners when potential terrorists are getting on planes with explosive material that more (and cheaper) bomb sniffing dogs could detect? Simplify, simplify.
Americans in trouble with over-inflated spending and under-funded budgets? Simplify, simplify.
When my friend first scrawled these words in front of my car, I translated simplicity to laziness. I took his observation, in other words, as an insult. I have since learned the distinction. Simplicity is a catalyst to productivity. Think how much white noise fills our social and political consciousness, of how much time we waste on poisonous nonsense.
My recommendation? Simply refuse. Refuse poisonous relationships, damaging distractions and any logic that does not jive with your own good sense (presuming you have good sense, which might be a stretch). If we can do that in this new year--new decade--then I have no doubt we can move ourselves and this country forward.
I am not typically big on New Year's resolutions, but some of you have asked, so here are my three:
1. Write 3 Android apps in the first 3 months of 2010 (you won't get that if you aren't a bit of an IT geek);
2. Give monthly to St. Jude in honor of a 2.5-year-old little boy named Dax Locke, who lost his battle with cancer just yesterday; and
3. Find JOY (thank you, Chad, for the idea).
Most importantly, I wish you all a very happy and safe New Year. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I look forward to more discussions and exploration with each of you in the year (and years) ahead.
(Purple State, USA, has expanded! You can also check us out on OpinionEditorial.com!)
I was so sad to hear about Dax!
Posted by: Jazmyn H | Dec 31, 2009 at 01:20 PM
I like your idea to take pics of all the things you truly enjoy this year & hang them on one of your walls. The first pic (one of her snow covered Jeep tires) was great! So you. ;)
Posted by: Mark | Dec 31, 2009 at 01:58 PM
lol... what can I say... I found driving in the large amounts of snow we received this past week ridiculously enjoyable. ;-)
Posted by: Juli | Dec 31, 2009 at 02:06 PM
(for those of you who can appreciate, I updated the post with one of the pics Mark is referring to)
Posted by: Juli | Dec 31, 2009 at 02:25 PM
Awesome! Happy new yr!
Posted by: Kirk V | Jan 01, 2010 at 07:48 PM
Thoreau is a good read. Thx for the reminder!
Posted by: Robert Cook | Jan 02, 2010 at 08:25 AM
So sorry about Dax!
Posted by: Jamie W | Jan 04, 2010 at 09:29 AM
I LOVE your jeep!
Posted by: Max | Jan 08, 2010 at 11:27 AM