I can’t believe it’s 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!
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.
