Share Four Somethings: December 2020

During the second half of 2020, participating in Heather Gerwing’s monthly Share Four Somethings linkup became one of my favorite blogging rhythms.

If you’re a blogger looking for something a little different in 2021, I’d encourage you to check it out. And if you’re not a blogger, the practice of jotting down something loved, something read, something treasured and something ahead as each month draws to a close might be a helpful habit to implement in the coming year.

• Something Loved 

In short, I love my home at Christmastime. The Santa collection on the stereo cabinet and the holiday pillows strewn about the living room. The village houses in the kitchen and the Frasier fir that stretches halfway up the second-floor balcony. The single lighted wreath on the front of the house and the three lit evergreens along the back fence.

It all exudes the kind of coziness and warmth that we so long for this time of year. And the fact that my girls pretty much took over the decorating this year (except for the giant tree—I did help with that) makes it even better.

• Something Read 

I’m deep into a couple of thought-provoking books right now, but the one I want to share today was probably my quickest read of the year.

Don’t let that fool you, though. It may have only taken me an hour or two to read Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by Monty Python co-founder John Cleese, but I came away with insights that are already affecting the way I think and write.

First, an observation:

“Whenever you can find a way of doing something that is better than what has been done before, you are being creative.” ~ John Cleese

Most of us aren’t world-famous actor-comedian-scriptwriters like Cleese, but I think we’re all capable of the kind of creativity that he describes. Which means we all have the opportunity to make a difference, some how, some way.

Second, for those of us who are in the habit of soliciting feedback about our writing, Cleese offers four extremely helpful questions to ask those who review our work (including ourselves, if we are able to be objective about it):

1. 1. 1. Where were you bored?
      2. Where could you not understand what was going on?
      3. Where did you not find things credible?
      4. Was there anything that you found emotionally confusing?

The answers to these questions might result in a great deal of rewriting, but also a much stronger finished product.

• Something Treasured 

In keeping with the holiday theme, my entry for this category has to be my Christmas dishes. I’ve always kept them in the cabinet above the microwave and only brought them out for special dinners. This year, though, I decided to get some of them down and use them regularly.

The girls love the little glass cups—a garage-sale find, I think—that are decorated with a Christmas village scene. My favorites are the Seasons Greetings glasses that transport me back to the holiday dinner table in my childhood home, surrounded by family and occasionally friends from church my mom invited to join us because they were far from their own loved ones on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The cups are special; those memories are priceless.

• Something Ahead 

Several weeks ago, I quietly made some changes to the look of things here at my little online home. The fonts changed a bit, and you may have noticed a new header and slogan at the top of the homepage.

I’ve loved “Waxing Gibbous” and all that it meant to me when I started blogging six years ago (you can read more about that here). But I’ll be the first to admit that the name was vague and didn’t make it immediately clear what this space is all about.

It seemed appropriate to highlight what I’m actually trying to do every week—thus the new slogan “Strength for Today • Hope for Tomorrow.” Stay tuned … I’ll explain more of my thinking behind this—and share my new word of the year for 2021—very soon.

• • •

Do you have any cherished holiday decorations or regularly use your special dishes? If so, please share in the comments. And while you’re at it, feel free to add your own Four Somethings to the conversation.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #ShareFourSomethings, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.