Summary

The author reflects on the past year, expresses optimism for the new one, and shares personal growth and challenges, embracing the symbolism of the Year of the Dragon.

Abstract

The article "Washing out the old to welcome in the new" by an unnamed author captures the transition from 2023 to 2024, using the metaphor of a heavy rainstorm to illustrate the cleansing of the past year's struggles. The author describes 2023 as a mixed year, with significant challenges but also valuable lessons learned. Looking forward, the author draws inspiration from the Chinese zodiac's Year of the Dragon, despite not being born under that sign, to embrace the potential for a year filled with promise and power. The author sets personal goals and ambitions for 2024, viewing it as an opportunity for new adventures and conquests, and encourages readers to join in facing new challenges. A specific challenge mentioned is the author's attempt to recreate the success of writing a draft novel in ten days, a feat previously accomplished in 2016. The article concludes with well-wishes for the new year and an invitation for readers to subscribe for updates on new stories.

Opinions

The author views the heavy rainfall at the year's end as a symbolic cleansing, preparing for a fresh start.
2023 is retrospectively seen as a year with both negative and positive aspects, but not one for rave reviews.
Writing serves as a therapeutic tool for the author to process and move beyond past hurts.
The author has a pragmatic approach to New Year's, seeing it as a chance to let go of the bad and embrace the new.
Despite not being a dragon in the Chinese zodiac, the author is excited about the symbolism of the Year of the Dragon and its potential for personal growth and success.
The author has a goal-oriented mindset for the new year, with plans and ambitions but refrains from making traditional resolutions.
A challenge from the end of 2023, to write a draft novel in ten days, is carried over as a first challenge for 2024, demonstrating determination and resilience.
The author expresses a readiness to face the new year with courage and invites readers to join in the spirit of conquest and achievement.

Washing out the old to welcome in the new

Hail to a Year of the Dragon. Let’s slay it!

Last night, it rained. In point of fact, it didn’t merely rain because that would suggest, perhaps, a gentle, cleansing shower in harmony with the fact that it’s currently supposed to be mid-summer over here. No sirree, no. It poured. It was a deluge. It was a downpour of sluicegate proportions. It rained so hard I worried that the roof repairs might not hold (they did) or that guineapigs might wash away and drown (they didn’t).

For a wee minute, the rain induced a reasonable level of anxiety, to be relieved by a judicious measure of good, aged bourbon. After that, and once it had toned itself down just a little, I, for my part, was able to discern the poetry in it. There it was, having started just before midnight, thoroughly washing away all traces of the outgoing year, and cleansing the way for the new year to make an entrance. It seemed fitting, symbolic; beautiful.

Cleansing out the old

2023 wasn’t one of my better years. Admittedly, it wasn’t one of my worst years (2016 and 2020 have tied for that position of recent years) but it was hardly one to write any rave reviews about. Shamelessly paraphrasing the famous opening lines of Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities, it could be said of 2023: It was the best of years, it was the worst of years, it was a year of wisdom, it was a year of foolishness, it was a year of belief, it was a year of incredulity, it was seasons of Light, it was seasons of Darkness, it was a spring of hope, it was a winter of despair.

In a nutshell, there were parts of 2023 that totally sucked.

Though not all of it.

I’m not going to rehash old drama. I’ve written about a lot of it during the course of the year and, if it really interests you that much, feel free to fossick it out. That’s my way of purging, of finding catharsis from the hurts and sorrows; writing. And writing’s been a hard slog this year gone.

But I learned a LOT.

I’m planning to share some of what I learned through the past year during the year to come.

That’s what you do; hold on to the good and let the rest drift away and disappear and that’s why, although I’m renowned for being the consummate Grinch and Christmas could crash and burn for all I care, I LOVE New Year’s. It’s an opportunity to relinquish what didn’t work, what hurt, what pained, what angered, what sorrowed. Wash it all away and let it go to herald in new hopes and dreams and plans and challenges not yet met.

2023 is dead, done, and dusted, people. Let’s check out 2024.

A year of the dragon

Note; I said ‘A’ and not ‘The’ because there’s a dragon year every twelve years, according to the Chinese zodiac, and this just so happens to be one of them.

I’m not a dragon (more’s the pity). I’m a sheep/goat. If I were to choose between the two (given I didn’t get to be a dragon, a tiger, or even a rat) I’d pick the goat. At least they’re independent, adaptable, and feisty. I think that’s fitting.

Even though the dragon isn’t my year and I’m not even one of those most likely to find fortune in a dragon-year (those would be monkey, rat, and pig), and I’m not even a true horoscope believer, Chinese or otherwise, I figure there’s no harm in borrowing from the notion of a year of promise and power. You are what you believe, right? The idea of a year that launches itself into being (in the midst of a storm, no less) to carry me with it into new and, hopefully, grander adventures, gives me a peculiar sense of exhilaration. I love dragons. I’m ready to absolutely slay this one in all the best ways. I have plans. I have goals. I don’t exactly have resolutions, ‘cos I’m not a huge fan of those, but I do have ambitions.

I have my sword and shield, my trusty steed, and a heart full of courage. I’m up for new challenges. Are you?

Challenge Update

Recall that challenge I undertook in the final two weeks of 2023? To attempt to recreate the writing of a draft novel in ten days, as I accomplished in 2016? Twice. I have yet to succeed at that challenge, as in, I have yet to reproduce the secret sauce of that particular writing success.

But that’s okay. I’ve carried the challenge forward and made it my first challenge for the first month of this Year of the Dragon. I’m not beaten yet. Just because I haven’t doesn’t mean I can’t. And the moment I figure it out — I promise I’ll share it with you.

Meanwhile, I’m wishing each and every one of you a year worthy of dragons and dragon-slayers. Go forth and conquer!

Happy New Year’s!

To all of you fabulous writers and readers out there,

Aroha nui, kia kaha, and haere mai.

Fighting!

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