Everything Old is New Again

Don’t throw the past away

You might need it some rainy day

Dreams can come true again

When everything old is new again

– Peter Allen, “Everything Old is New Again,” from All That Jazz

Hi! I’m back! Although I know it’s been a while, I’m still just a girl, sitting in front of her keyboard, asking you to like her and hopefully what she writes. Seeing as it’s February 1^st it’s time to share my New Year’s resolution! Oh wait, I guess I’m a little late to that party. But who’s to say you can’t make a resolution for the rest of the year at any point? No one that counts. If you take a moment to think about it, I’m really just leaning into my contrarian nature. Or I’m admitting I’m an epically skilled procrastinator. I’ll leave that decision up to you. In the meantime let’s dive in!

Last year on January 1^st I shared a meme encouraging us to be kind to ourselves and others. (You can check it out here: https://shannonrbrown.com/2022/01/01/a-gentler-year/) I set that as my resolution along with one other – a commitment to return to this space. Well, one of them was mostly successful, the other not so much. Three posts in 2022 isn’t exactly impressive but I did try to be kinder to others though, so that’s a partial win. I think I used the idea of being kind to myself as an excuse to not challenge myself more – or hold myself accountable. Not sure that was actually what the meme was suggesting.

Now that you’re all caught up, let’s move on. I have been pondering a resolution for a while. I considered lots of options, but I kept coming back to one I was a little afraid to commit to seeing as it seemed impossible. Then I was reminded of an old song – Everything Old is New Again. Or at least it can be. I realize no one has found the fountain of youth so I’ll continue to age, quasi-gracefully, however, that doesn’t negate the idea. I have a jacket, pictured above, that illustrates my point.

That gorgeous, brown, fringed jacket is about six decades old and has been worn by three generations. My mom, a flower child of the 60s, was the original wearer. I’m so grateful she didn’t throw it away. My daughter wore it next and I finally got to wear it last week. I had dreamed of wearing that jacket most of my life and, thanks to a lifestyle change a few years ago, I finally got to. (If you’re interested in that story let me know in the comments and I may share it here in the future.) Through my husband’s employer we had the opportunity to attend the Ft. Worth rodeo in an executive suite. The dress code was “Rodeo Chic” (or “Radio Chick” as I call it). I had no idea what that was, but thanks to my mom and her hippie style, I had what I needed in my closet. It was icing on the cake that I got to fulfill my long held dream too. Score on all fronts! As I walked through the arena, huge smile plastered on my face, in the sixty year old jacket, I fit in as if I had just walked off the western wear fashion runway. Why? Because everything old is new again.

Why have I taken you on this rambling journey before sharing my New(ish) Year’s resolution? Because, like the song says and the hippie jacket proves, sometimes an old resolution can be new again. So this year, I’m renewing my commitment to my literary endeavors, particularly this blog. Proving I am capable of self-reflection and change, I recognize that I am virtually incapable of completing tasks without some kind of external accountability. In the past my pride has kept me from admitting that, but if I’m going to actually do this thing, I’ve got to embrace my need for help. I simply can’t do this one on my own. I have several years of incontrovertible proof of that reality. Thankfully I have an incredibly talented and supportive tribe and I have enlisted the help of one of those amazing women. She has graciously agreed to be my editor, complete with the power to create and hold me to deadlines. Pray for her cuz I’m a lot. In fact, I may have to call on one of you other ladies too so consider this fair warning friends!

So here I am, once again, asking you to read, like, share and subscribe to my little piece of the literary world. I can’t promise you I know exactly what this space will become or what things I will address. What I can promise is that I will do my best to be honest, and hopefully entertaining, as I blunder forward into this new(ish) year with renewed, and expanded, vigor. I’m hoping that you’ll join me. I’ll do my best not to make you regret it.