January: Great Expecations

Not being a particular fan of New Year's Resolutions, I didn't make some grand, overly ambitious list of things to accomplish this year. But every new year, like every change in season, does bring about a natural inclination to reflect upon where I am at in life, etc. Instead of over-analyzing all the things I want to change or improve about myself (which only leads to extreme dejection), I simply thought about what things inspire and fulfill me. Of course, reading was the first thing that came to mind and so I resolved to read one book a month.

I love reading but I often allow myself to get sidetracked by life. I tell myself that I'm far too busy to start a new book and before I know it, a couple of months pass and I look longingly at my shelf of unread books and feel miserable. But this is ridiculous. Reading is such a constant and fulfilling friend and (as with many things we wrongly convince ourselves, out of guilt, that we must relinquish) it is simply a matter of making time for it.

So, I thought that Great Expectations was particularly apropos to start the year off, given my own great expectations...hey, just because I didn't make a list of resolutions for the new year doesn't mean those really hefty goals aren't rolling around in my head! Of course it is a classic and was a great read. It is always rewarding to be reminded that money and status don't ever really set a person free, but rather, often bind them to ridiculous things and often at the price of those truly fulfilling aspects of life.