A couple years back I went to an exhibit of the writings and drawings of Woody Guthrie - with my folk musician dad - at the Morgan Library in Manhattan.
I didn’t take many photos at the exhibit, but something that stuck with me was an open page in Woody’s diary (he actually indicates in the crease at the top it was the “MIDDLE OF THE BOOK”). Instead of New Years “Resolutions” he writes “Rulin’s”.
What I love about this -
1 - They are so simple that each can be summarized with a tiny illustration which on their own would be fairly impossible to work out but paired with Woody’s text add quite a bit of humor. I love the “Drink very scant, if any” and “dream good” especially.
2- They are wonderfully vague - for example “Dance Better” leaves no indication of Woody’s current dancing skills or level of practice or how he will know that he is in fact better. “Read Lots of Good Books” and “Listen to Radio a Lot” similarly, gives no definition of what a lot is. Only Woody knows what is better or a lot for him, and he is comfortable being the judge.
3 - Clearly Woody already thinks he’s doing a pretty good job. A popular form of new years resolution you will see on the ‘gram is the “More/Less” model. “More Vegetables, Less Sugar” or “More exercise, less TV”. Woody’s are not really an admonition on his current behavior, just statements - “Love Mama”, or ”Don’t get Lonesome”
4 - As you might already know - I love a list.
I love New Years. Every year I make a list of fairly aspirational resolutions usually focussing on specific objectives which set me up for failure as soon as I am done writing them down. Once I inevitably break my streak I need a full year to go by before I get another “fresh start”.
But if I were to take a page from Woody’s book, specifically the MIDDLE of his book, instead of resolving to change my ways, instead of a super specific goal with results I need to meet, instead of a list of limitations, instead of thinking how I will transform myself - I will simply and vaguely list “rules” I want to live by - this year and every year. I can be the judge if I feel I have been true to my rule.
If the secret to Woody’s success was just to follow rule 25 “play and sing good” then maybe there is something to this…
Draw and Write Lots
Share art with good people and good critics, make better art
Read Lots of Good Picture Books
Play with Margo and Stevie
Sing to Margo
Sleep Good
Look Good (Wear Clean Clothes, Brush Teeth, Wash Face, Comb Hair)
Stretch Lots
Enjoy New York City - go on adventures
Love Matt
Love Margo
Love Stevie
Spend time with friends
Spend time in the company of other Artists
Be present (give full attention - especially to loved ones)
Listen to New Music Lots
Pack Light
Take Classes - Learn Lots
Scroll very scant, if at all
Wake up happy
Speak honestly - say what you want
Now, like Frog and Toad, it is time to say goodnight friends. See you next year!
Aww, love Frog and Toad, and love the idea of a more "it's all relative" list! That's sort of what I do with my vision boards (only in picture form). Happy 2024!