Amy Barickman

I can’t believe it — 2012! A new year with new opportunities and new challenges. This is a natural time for each of us to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. I love these thoughtful words written by Laura Mac Farlane for Fashion Service Magazine from 1934, which serve as a wonderful testament to the rejuvenating power of a creative mind. What’s even more amazing, is that this was written in the middle of the Great Depression. Whatever hardships we may face in the year ahead, Laura’s words remind us that beauty, hospitality, and creativity will always have a place in our communities and be valuable assets to a life well-lived.

Enjoy these words from Fashion Service 1934, and have a very Happy New Year!

“When the bells peal out on New Year’s eve, ringing in another year, a new spirit springs up within us. A new expectancy. A new buoyancy. What will the new year bring, we wonder. More work for daddy or husband? More money for food and clothes? More of the comforts of life? More peace of mind? More pleasures? More real happiness?

We’re all hoping it will, aren’t we? We were glad to give up the old year —it was so troubled, so full of disaster. But here’s a new year dawning. With its hope! Its promise Its cheerful outlook!

We’ll do our best to make things better, we secretly pledge. We’ll work harder. And we won’t be discouraged. If only we get a chance. So much to do — so much of interest and pleasure. Life can be so happy and full. We’ll have some of the good things, some of the fun, we resolve.

And that makes me think that this is resolution time. The time to close our minds on what has passed. And resolve that we’ll put a stronger shoulder to the wheel next year. That we’ll give charm to even prosaic things. Our homes —a pleasant place for our families to live and enjoy their friends. That’s a good first resolution. Not vare, unattractive houses just to eat and sleep in, but homes softened and beautified by the real homemaker who is full of ideas, clever with her needle, and willing to work. Homes where our young folks like to be and their friends love to come. Homes that radiate hospitality to neighbors and friends, old and young.

That something more which we put into our houses to make them homes — that spirit and effort, injected into all the things we do — transforms them from the ordinary into creations that satisfy and charm. The food we offer our guests may be well-cooked and nourishing. But if it is also good to look at and delicious to eat, it will delight their souls as well as satisfy their hunger. Our clothes may take care of our needs. But they will be just clothes — nothing more — unless we fashion them so that they are smart. So that they express our personalities. So that they display the niceties of sewing.

The ability to rise above the ordinary and make life for ourselves and others pleasanter and more exhilarating. That’s something worth striving for this year, don’t you think?”

Christmas is just around the corner. Soon we will be gathered around the tree, celebrating with our families and giving gifts wrapped in shiny paper and ribbon. Of course, gifts can come in many different packages — or no package at all. When we exchange presents with one another is the true gift within the box? Or is it the love with which we give?

Here’s a little story from the editor of the Woman’s Institute Magazine, Laura Mac Farlane:

Last year, the day before Christmas, a goodly-sized box arrived from the South. My friend had accepted a position there for the winter, and though a thousand miles away, had not forgotten us. I couldn’t resist opening the box, and my eagerness was rewarded, for there, packed between paddings of Southern moss, was layer after layer of greens, and right on top, under the first padding, the largest poinsettia I’d ever seen.

That simple gift was almost like the widow’s cruse of oil, for I had greens enough to dress up all my packages that had not yet gone and to decorate all our rooms for Holiday week. And the poinsettia, carefully watered and trimmed, was still a suitable table centerpiece for a New Year’s eve party. But best of all, I had realized that the sender had remembered my fancy for hanging up Christmas greens and that her gift was somehow meant to bring back to mind the fun we’d had one year in doing it together. And so it was the thought behind the gift that made it more precious to me than the costliest one I received.

So our Christmas gifts don’t need to be costly nor in any way beyond our efforts or resources. Just the simple little gift that shows we understand and appreciate not only the needs but the desires and hobbies of our friends, will bring a warm, steady glow to the heart such as the most expensive one never could. It’s when we learn that others are thinking of us, as if they cherished us, that we’re happiest. No success we may ever acheive can thrill us like the knowledge that our friends love and respect us. And in no way during the whole year can we so well express our affection to our loved ones as through our gift-giving at Christmas time.

Laura Mac Farlane

Merry Christmas everyone!