Found Objects #21: Happy New Year!
A few things that I've learned this year.
This year’s holiday cards, crafted in a Continuing Studies Letterpress class at MECA&D.
Happy New Year! I hope that you are all enjoying the last day of 2024. Here are a few things that I’ve learned this year:
I have so much love for my dog! I did not grow up with dogs, and I never dreamed of getting one, but earlier this year, I had a feeling that getting a dog would be a great addition to our family. My partner and I adopted Coco, a one-year old Jindo/ Shibu Inu rescue dog three weeks ago, and we are both obsessed with him. Our relationship is already stronger because of him.
After reading Haruki Muramaki’s Novelist as Vocation in September, I re-developed a habit of running five days a week. I have been a runner for many years, but after running a marathon in 2023 and buying a house this year, I stopped making running a priority. In 2025, these runs will most likely be replaced by 1-2 hour walks, 7 days a week, but I’m okay with that. It’s cliche, but daily walks remind me that there’s beauty in the rainy days as well as the sunny ones!
A rainy and foggy walk at Fort Williams Park / Portland Head Light.
I didn’t realize how much I would love being a homeowner. I feel settled, and I feel like I am in the right place in my life. I’ve set up my studio, and I hope that I don’t make any big moves again for awhile.
Coco, watching me paint these corn hole boards that Zach built my parents for Christmas. I used interior wall paint samples.
They turned out great!
I’ve realized that I love making comics so much because I can balance intellectual work ( research, writing, and storytelling) with creative problem solving (drawing, painting, and design) and craft (printing, paper folding, sewing books, etc.) It’s the perfect combination.
I had a ton of fun making this Mt. Blue risograph zine this year.
The quantity of work that I produce each year doesn’t matter as much the quality and meaning behind it. (Although I’m not totally convinced yet.)
Not really resolutions, but here are a few things that I want to do / keep doing in 2025:
Finish my book, Finding Hope. Despite getting an agent for this book last January, I didn’t make any progress at all in 2024. (Rejections from several publishers most likely killed my motivation.) I plan to work on this project five days a week until I finish it. I will not give myself a strict page or time goal each day. I know that some days I’ll get into a flow, and some days, I simply won’t have time. Whether I spend 10 minutes or 10 hours a day is okay.
Paint with gouache more. I love painting so much, so why am I not doing it more?
I painted this New Yorker-style cover in September for The Cartagenerian project led by the Colombian designer Kike Sierra.
Yoga. I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to put on a yoga video once in a while when I enjoy the physical and meditational aspects so much. I have a bad habit of not stretching before and after I run, and I would like to change that.
Start a garden this spring.
Listen to more audio books and podcasts about myths, fables, history, and classical literature, rather than fluff Netflix shows and news. It’s good to stay informed, but I imagine that 2025 will be overwhelming in many ways. For the past few days, I’ve been listening to the audiobook Mythos by Stephen Fry about the history of Greek myths on Spotify, and it’s been wonderful. I also plan to watch some of The Met’s Youtube series while I fold zines and color comics.
Be a more attentive partner, daughter, sister, and friend. I easily get wrapped up in whatever project I’m working on — which can be great! But this year, I want to make more time for people in my life.
Read more books, and stop reading books that I’m not enjoying. I’ve been reading Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo for a month now, and I’m just not into like I’ve been into her other novels. There are too many books to read in this life, but I only have 80 pages to go…
Update my website! I haven’t updated it for a few years, and it’s time.
I wish you all the best for 2025, and I appreciate your support! Let’s see what next year brings.
Coco, looking like a grumpy old man in his Christmas sweater.
You are good at reflecting.
As a teacher/lesson creator, I say many of the same things myself, motivation-wise.
Never mind the “supposed to..”
By the way, Coco’s breed is Shiba Inu. In Japan, where I live, the nickname is Shiba (not shibu). In Japanese, “inu” means dog. When you call, Coco, you can add “chan” as an endearment. All the vets add the ending to their animal patients to mean they are cute and loved like babies.
I surprised myself by stopping Intermezzo half way through too. I expected to love it... but didn't