Saturday, December 31, 2011

The journey into another year begins

Welcome, 2012. I am ready for you. I am ready for all of the joys and surprises, the sorrows and challenges. I am ready for the new friends and the new projects. I am ready for the books I will read, the music I will hear, the photos I will take, and the places I will go. I am ready for all that life has to offer me. I am ready for 2012.

The road of life twists and turns
and no two directions are ever the same.
Yet our lessons come from the journey,
not the destination. ~ Don Williams, Jr.

 Focus on the journey, not the destination.
Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.
~ Greg Anderson

 Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination
that we forget the journey.

 Then we turned, and took our journey
into the wilderness... ~ The Bible

 ...We journey to the day,
And tell each other how we sang
To keep the dark away. ~ Emily Dickinson

 As travellers oft look back at eve
When eastward darkly going,
To gaze upon that light they leave
Still faint behind them glowing —
So, when the close of pleasure’s day
To gloom hath near consign’d us,
We turn to catch one fading ray
Of joy that’s left behind us. ~ T. Moore

  Ithaka
As you set out in search of Ithaka
Pray that your journey be long,
Full of adventures, full of awakenings.
Do not fear the monsters of old …
You will not meet them in your travels
If your thoughts are exalted and remain high,
If authentic passions stir your mind, body, and spirit.
You will not encounter fearful monsters
If you do not carry them within your soul,
If your soul does not set them up
in front of you. ~ Constantine Peter Cavafy

Welcome to 2012! I hope you will decide to take the journey with me. Happy New Year!
   

6 comments:

Unknown said...

This is lovely. Now you've inspired me back! Happiest of New Years!

Silke Powers said...

What a beautiful post, Beth, and I read it at the exact perfect moment as I was thinking about 2012 and feeling a tad anxious about it. I was thinking about the destinations (which I can't clearly see) rather than the journey. So this was such a good reminder to enjoy every step of the journey and stop trying to figure it all out ahead of time... Wishing you an incredibly wonderful 2012, dearest friend!! Love, Silke

Beth said...

Thank you to Jamie for inspiring me with the quotes & photos she has posted on Pinterest!

Thank you to Silke for being with me during every step of my journey, year in and year out!

Blessings to you both!

caite said...

beautiful..pictures and quotes.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful beautiful collection of inspirational words accompanying photos that also speak to the journey. You inspire me to also open up to the journey ahead! I will start with today's journey.
Where are the waterfalls?

Beth said...

Thank you, Caite.

Rita, the waterfalls are found along the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. A beautiful drive - I recommend it to anyone who loves the beauty of New England.