There is no chill in the air despite the manger-as-cradle being filled by The Babe. Maybe this was the real climate during the first Noel? Mary and Joseph traveled to the rocky hills of Bethlehem in Palestine where she gave birth to Jesus Christ – hills covered in dry, scratchy sand and small grasses not soft wet snow.
I wonder if they ever looked back – to see what they were leaving behind, to realize how far they’ve come. Or did they only look forward, to the hope of what – of who – was to come?
On this warm December day, I must look back before I can look forward to new beginnings. Otherwise I fear the unintended and unwanted irony that could result. I feel the sweat forming on my brow as I imagine what this next year might bring.
Outbound Old Year laughs
With relief or craziness
Cautious New Year starts

I wrote this poem last week when we were still in December 2021 for Go Dog Go Cafe’s Haibun Wednesday and for Patrick’s Pic and a Word Challenge #295 Chill, #294 Travel, #293 Cradle, #292 Rocky, #291 Beginnings and #290 Outbound. I need to catch up on Patrick’s challenge to continue my streak (hope it’s still valid even after my hiatus!).
This is Day 3 of 2022 – so far, it’s gone well. I never really write down resolutions but my daughters have started to write their goals for the year and have checked it off as they have accomplished them. They both successfully completed most of their goals from 2021.
I have to admit that I have never written out a list of goals – interesting, right? Why not? Did I not have dreams that I strived for? Did I have no vision for myself growing up? Thinking back, I don’t think I did. I never really thought about what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do; I never even really thought about getting married and having a family. I always thought that life – or God – would just lead me where I was meant to go.
One thing for sure though – I never felt disappointed in my life. How can I be disappointed by not reaching a goal when I didn’t have any goals to reach? Some would call this being an under-acheiver…or being naive about how life works…. I would call it being trusting….is that a goal or a resolution to have or to change for 2022?
©️ 2022 iido
Love your prose, especially the realization that the first Christmas was probably warm 😂 but all kidding aside…you ask thoughtful, new year, questions in your entry…and your haiku a splendid accompaniment!
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Thank you so much, Donna!
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Pingback: Bluster ~ Pic and a Word Challenge #296 – Pix to Words
Hi, Irma, good to see you around again. I’m glad 2022 started well for you, it did for me too. Trusting is a good thing to be, I feel. There are signs everywhere that we can follow in order to thrive. I also feel that this year is the year of survival. How’s that for the goal? Underachieving? I don’t think so… 😉 Be well!
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I think surviving is a worthy goal, Manja! Especially after the last two years. Also – I see you’ve moved again while I was on hiatus! I will have to search out your new abode so I can continue to enjoy your lovely photos and live vicariously through your travels!
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I started this blog with the start of August. It’s listed right here with my name: An Embarrassment of Riches. 😀 Warmly welcome!
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I found you and am following again! ❤️
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Oh, I didn’t get the notification and when I had a look, I didn’t find you on the list. Are you sure you clicked the right button?
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I am pretty sure but I will check again!
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Now it worked. 🙂
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I love this Irma and i love your perspective about setting goals…i hope you had a wonderful holiday 😊
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Thank you! I hope you did too!
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I can relate to your haiku.
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Glad it resonated!
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