And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?

Another year over, and a new one just begun.* 
Soon it will be 2011.  The future is here. Or it will be! There will be lists, resolutions and promises.  For ourselves and others.  I haven't made a new year resolution for a long long time.  I've always felt my birthday was a more appropriate time to think about bettering myself.  But this year, being unemployed and without much of a plan, it seems like good time for lists and resolutions, plans and goals.  It's been a long time since I've sat down with myself to discuss such things.  I've been floating along, mostly letting things happen to me since my ridiculously late bloomer graduation from college.  I was 35 in 2005 when I graduated with my bachelors of Interior Architecture from the University of Oregon.  Just to clarify, this is my only degree.

I think it's a great time to make long term goals, that I haven't thought about for a long time.  The goal for a lot of interior designers and architects over the last 3 years has basically been to keep their jobs.  I made it pretty far. But now I need to step up and take control of my future.  I've been working toward being a full time artist my entire life, from what I can tell.  This seems like a good time to move forward with that plan.  If, and/or when, a "real" job presents it's self, there will be decisions to be made.  Until then I need to figure out how to pay my bills, save for retirement, travel and maybe even eat a little cheese along the way, all by creating art.  Oh, and selling it!

I'll be spending a few days with some family and friends over the next week but I'll be back in 2011, if not before!  Until we meet again I leave you with this haiku that is my anthem:

It's almost monday
Putting my hope into art
I get back freedom


*Happy Christmas (The War is Over)
Artist: John Lennon
Album: Shaved Fish or Imagine
Year: 1971
 
And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?
Another year over, and a new one just begun.
And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.

A very Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.
Let’s hope it’s a good one,
Without any fear.

And so this is Christmas, for weak and for strong,
For rich and for poor ones, the road is so long.
And so happy Christmas, for black and for white,
For yellow and red ones, let’s stop all the fight.
A very Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.
Let’s hope it’s a good one,
Without any fear.

So this is Christmas, and what have you done?
Another year over, and a new one just begun.
And so happy Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.

A very Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year.
Let’s hope it’s a good one,
Without any fear.