I don't think I want to do this, make new year's resolutions. Well, somehow I do it whether or not I want to. They're always the same: lose weight, exercise more. Will I ever not have those resolutions? This time of year is a good time to take stock, to be grateful, and to look forward to the coming year with a feeling of hope and optimism. 

A good teacher friend of mine posted a photo of the view from her lanai overlooking the ocean on the first morning of winter break. She commented that the only bad thing about this is that she could get easily get used to this. I commented back that this is my life all the time. 

I am writing this for me more than anyone else. Since I have been back from my trip, I have been in this state of fogginess, definitely not creative. I have been trying to  live a more creative life, so this is troubling. I had a conversation with myself, my muse, my spirit, to get me out of the funk.

Sometimes, I impress myself with my cleverness. A friend posted on Facebook about the need to be wary of blind faith and I commented on her post that we need to have mind faith. I like it. What do I mean?

Forgive me if I sound age-ist, but I get excited about the Millennial generation more than my own. Maybe it's because my daughter is a millennial, maybe because I am an optimist and I like to be encouraged by the positive things that young people are doing to make the world a better place. But, I am going to start posting people I admire for their creativity and courage and maybe you'll see a pattern in my selection of subjects. 

I first came across Zen Pencils (Gavin Aung Than) because he had done a comic for an educational statement or two. It may have been the Taylor Mali one on What Teachers Make, or the Sir Ken Robinson one. But I am now on his mailing list, bought his first book, and just loving this guy's work, combining comic books and inspiration. 

Oh yes, I am aware that millennials are generally not in great financial shape, as described in this Atlantic article. But, come on, a good life story can only be good, right?