“Fact and fiction are so intermingled in my work that now, looking back on it, I can hardly distinguish one from the other.” – Somerset Maugham
Here we are: 2024 has arrived and it’s time to think about… things.
I know; people like to call them New Year’s Resolutions, but I prefer to just play around with the gentler ‘idea of possibilities’, or maybe ‘make some tentative plans’. “Resolutions” sounds so unflinching. I’m starting off this year by being gently kind to myself, and maybe after the past couple of years, you might want to as well.
self care
So let’s say we’re going to plan for a little more self care this year. We’re going to think about nurturing those elements to life that simply make us happy. Collate our pearls, if you will, – treasured pastimes and people that make us happy. Some of mine, in no particular order, are like pearls, pretty simple, but enduringly lovely: spending time with my kids, working out at the gym, watching the birds at the feeder, losing myself in my artwork, listening to music, writing, hanging out with friends – and of course reading books.
It’s the latter two I want to address. I have noticed that the one thing I always enjoy most in the fiction I read is the theme of friendship. And because my favourite genre of fiction are mysteries, I especially love the ones where friends always have the back of the protagonist. Truthfully, the books I return to are the cozy series where the same core group of friends show up to help solve the mystery and often help get the main character out of some kind of trouble. Since these books have to be successful sellers to evolve into a series, clearly I’m not the only one who enjoys reading about friendships.
friends
Friends are chosen family. If you’re really lucky, you can have friendships that span decades, ones where you pick up right where you left off the last time. Friends who you can relax with – who are there for you in times of joy and heartbreak. I’m heading into 56 years this spring with my bestie. We’ve been lucky. Another friend I met a mere 10 years ago was tragically killed in a car wreck recently. She was kind, funny, creative, and a community builder. We came from vastly different backgrounds, but had love of our kids, music, animals, nature and artistic leanings in common. Some friendships might only have one shared element, and that would be enough. I shall miss her pearls of wisdom and humour greatly.
And this brings me to writing. I’ve already written three fictional short stories sprinkled with elements of people from real life. That old adage, “write what you know,” certainly has influenced me in fleshing out the image of characters in my mind, even while going on to create wholly made – up scenarios for the story lines.
be kind
If my friend’s sudden passing teaches me anything, it hammers home that inescapable truth: there are no guarantees; time is fleeting; humans break easily, and we have no idea what tomorrow will bring. So seek out that which makes that you happy. Like writing a great story, the kind you want to read yourself.
Meanwhile, another friend, reading about my sorrow at hearing the news of the accident, posted simply, “Be kind to yourself.”
She reminded me of the gift of simply knowing our late friend. I started to smile, remembering wry self-mockery, and hilarious stories of pets’ shenanigans. I sense another character will be showing up in Chapter 3…
So. Part of our self care plans for 2024: nourish and cherish our friendships.
Every friend we have bestows upon us gifts of themselves. The bonus as writers: from each one we gain beautiful pearls of wisdom: maybe a sense of the absurd, patience, or kindness – stories, treasures.
Our writing can’t fail to become richer as well.
2024 is going to be wonderful.
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