Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

Remember last January, when I really began writing this column on a regular basis? Yes, January, at this point feels like yesterday, and five years ago, all at the same time.

When I began writing it, my idea was to give people ideas of other perspectives besides their own and inspire people to think a little differently. Turns out, it’s also helped me to see other perspectives than my own too, which I consider a deeply valued and treasured gift.

In January, we thought this column would be once a month, or every other week, and it quickly turned into something I loved doing and Roger was kind enough to let me write it once a week. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue doing something I love – writing – and even more important, writing about things I like to.

Last year, I began by writing about a “word of the year,” and continued with pieces on fear, overcoming obstacles, being divided, coming together, appreciating our differences, being too busy, gratitude, blessings, self-care and more. Some topics were easier to write about, others more difficult. But all the topics helped me to grow in one way or another.

My hope is that in 2021 we all continue to grow… grow wiser, grow kinder, grow in our understanding of one another, and grow together, as individuals and as a collective. From my perspective, we all need to grow in this way, myself included.

Of course, I’ll always have opinions and perspectives on things that may not fall directly in the category of growth, but in general, that’s the direction I’d like my column to take in the coming year. Who knows though. There may be other fun and fascinating things to write about. Time will tell.

One of the ways I’m growing this year is by taking it easier. Instead of trying to recreate wheels, my intention is to build on things I already do or know. For instance, a group that I began four years ago on Facebook, called 52 Weeks of Sheep, is a group of over 2500 members devoted to learning more about the 350 plus types of fiber animals in the world. In the group we study a particular breed each week, usually sheep, with breed sheets and resources that I, along with another admin, would post weekly. Members, including myself, would then spin the fiber, discuss our processes, and then share our photos and experiences within the group. This year, I decided we would do a recap of the 52 most popular breeds of the last four years rather than research 52 new breeds, and most people in the group are so receptive to the idea of taking it a little easier and growing in the knowledge of something familiar.

You see, growth doesn’t have to be this huge, difficult thing. While the concept of growth itself can be scary, or maybe for some, even a little daunting, even the smallest growth steps carry us forward. The fact of the matter is that we can grow daily with small, incremental steps, taking us to places we want to go and helping us learn the things we want to know more about. And that, well, that’s something to be excited about!

With any luck, 2021 will be a far better and less challenging year than its predecessor, at least one can hope! I look forward to writing about new topics and endeavors in the coming year and also look forward to you all joining me along the journey.

I want to thank each of you who have reached out to me to let me know how much you liked, disliked or appreciated a particular topic, whether you agreed with my views or not. You all have no idea how much you’re reaching out has meant to me . Let me start by saying, more than you can know.

So, as we wrap-up one of the most difficult years to date, I raise my glass and toast to you all… here’s to a New Year – let’s grow, and make it our happiest year of all.