Saying Goodbye to 2020 ~ by Darlene Kuncytes

Well. It’s almost time to say goodbye to a year that I can honestly say, I don’t think anyone expected or will miss.

A year that has taken its toll on us in so many ways. Ways that are still too painful to think about.

I know that this year has been a rough one, and I am praying with everything I’ve got that 2021 will be a new beginning. That it will be an upswing for us all.

I was sitting over the holiday, missing the fact that we could not celebrate like we normally do, and something hit me. We are experiencing this, not just as a nation but in unison with the entire world.

Everyone on the entire planet is going through the same thing that we are at the same time. They are feeling the same things.

That is mind-blowing.

I know it’s been really hard to find the good in this year…but it’s there. We simply need to look. I admit, we have to look a bit harder, but we also need to remember to look. It’s much to easy to wallow in the bad. To lose ourselves in self-pity, when that serves no purpose.

There were babies born. Lives joined together in marriage. Laughter being shared. Perhaps it was over face-time or zoom, but it was still shared.

This may sound strange, but we STILL stand together even when we are divided.

Yes, this has been a dark year, but I have faith that we will persevere. We will climb this mountain and hopefully really learn how important the small things are. The things we have been taking for granted.

Hopefully we will truly learn how we need to treasure every single moment. Every single memory – new and old.

I look forward to the new year. To what will hopefully be new beginnings that are joyous and healing.

Yes. We have a long way to go, and when that clock strikes midnight, it’s not going to miraculously just flip us out of this nightmare.

That being said, I am choosing to look at that strike of midnight as something so much stronger than anything else. 

I am choosing to look at that strike of midnight as the signal of hope.
The signal of better things to come. 

Thank you for being a part of my year. You all have been one of the good things that I hold on to. 

Happy New Year and here’s to hope.
Darlene

Pictures courtesy of google

What’s New and How-To~by Joanne Jaytanie

If you’re looking for a fun story, interested in hearing some new music, or admire a piece of art, Originality by Design is your next must-read. Stop by and see what’s new. We have a wide variety of guest bloggers with a multitude of subjects. And, we’re introducing a brand new page titled, REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS. 

Are you excited to see what there is inside the pages of Originality by Design (OBD), but a bit bewildered?

No worries. I’m here to give you a quick rundown. You’ll become an expert in no time.

When you enter the OBD site, the newest blog post will be the first thing you see (like this one). To the right of this blog post is a list of PAGES. If you click on the HOME page, you’ll see the description of Originality by Design. And as you scroll down, the next block is once again, the newest post. Under that post is a list of the ten most viewed blog posts. 

The next tab under HOME in PAGES is MEMBERS. There you will find an introduction to each of our members along with a link to their PERSONAL PAGE. Each member’s page can also be reached by clicking on their name in PAGES. Along with the MEMBERS, we have our REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS and the list of GUEST BLOGGERS – by year. You can also CONTACT US if you have suggestions, comments, or are interested in joining us as a guest blogger.

Have you found a person you’d like to read more from but can’t locate their posts?

If they are a MEMBER, when you click on their name in the PAGES, their personal page will come up. There you can read all their posts to your heart’s content. You can also find links to their other sites, such as Facebook, Pinterest, and their website. Each member’s page is tailored to their choices.

If you’re looking for a specific GUEST BLOGGER, REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR, even a MEMBER, and you don’t want to scroll through pages and pages, let me tell you a little trick. Scroll up to the very top of the blog. On the top left side, above the Originality by Design banner, you’ll see a “B” next to that is a white box. Just type in the name you are looking for and hit enter. Everything relating to that person will appear. 

Those are the basics. So feel free to pursue OBD whenever the mood strikes. There’s always something new to read, a thought to ponder, or a laugh to be had.

Enjoy!  
Joanne

Happy New Year From Your Friends at Originality by Design

Thank you for making 2019 so successful! It's because of you--our readers, guests, and members--that Originality by Design has over 43,000 views in our first year as a blog.

We have many more creatives waiting to share with you their books, music, artwork, and more.   

Here's to a New Decade. Here's to a New Year.  Happy 2020!

New Year's Eve Musings

Whether we stay up to ring in the new year or awaken on January 1st, we not only face a new year, but also a new decade...a decade of possibilities. The following information is from mic.com.

Depositphotos/graceaugustine

The earliest recorded New Year's celebration is thought to be in Mesopotamia around 2000 B.C., according to Earth Sky. While the celebrations actually occurred during the vernal equinox in mid-March — as this was considered the start of the new year by the calendar at the time — an eleven-day festival was held that would probably put our current parties to shame. According to History.com, the Ancient Mesopotamian people performed rituals, celebrated the religious victory of the sky god Marduk over the sea goddess Tiamat and either crowned a new king or allowed their old king to continue his reign. 

The new year wasn't always celebrated in January, according to History.com. The Ancient Roman calendar used to follow the lunar cycle, and had the new year beginning in March. Sosigenes, an astronomer, convinced Julius Caesar to follow the solar year, instead. From 46 B.C. on, the new year began in January.

Starting the new year in January was partially done to honor the god Janus, for whom the month was named. Since Janus had two faces, he was able to look back into the past and forward into the future simultaneously, making him a great spokesperson for the holiday we celebrate today. 

To read the complete article click HERE.

However you celebrate, stay safe and look forward to all that lies ahead in this new territory of 2020.

Depositphotos/graceaugustine

A Brand New Decade...A Brand New Start ~ by Darlene Kuncytes

Well, the New Year is upon us. It’s coming!
A new decade…a fresh start.

This past year as an author has been an especially tough one for me. Actually, the past few years have. Writers block. No time. A lot of not so great stuff going on with some authors that kind of took the shine off of the writing community for me.

But...

As this decade grows closer to coming to an end, I realized that I will not let the negativity of a few bad apples dampen my passion for what I do.

I write. It’s what I love. It’s what keeps me sane in a whole lot of ways. Lol. It’s what makes me happy, and at the end of a long, tiring work day…it helps me to escape for a little while.

Anyone who has a love for something, whether it’s music, art, crafts, writing, or whatever, knows that even when we hit a mountain, we still trudge along. Making our way up that incline until it evens out and once again becomes a more even path is our goal.

Nothing in life is ever always easy. Creativity is a fickle beast. She comes and goes like the tides.

What we need to remember is that it’s okay.

An author friend of mine was beating herself up because she just hasn’t felt like putting words to the page. And believe me, I understood where she was coming from. Like I said, I have been fighting that battle. But it can’t be forced. It must come when it’s time.

We have so much going on in our lives that sometimes things get lost in the melee. It will be found again, because it is part of us. It’s in our souls. We simply need to remember to breathe. To take a step back and release the negative energy.

We are approaching a brand-new decade. Let’s make it a point to be kinder and more aware of the things around us. Let’s get our creative juices flowing again, and strive to make this upcoming year a year of change for the better.

A year of maybe doing something small that will affect others in a positive, supportive way.

Find your passion again if it’s strayed away from you, or perhaps find a brand-new passion.

How about in this new year we realize that the possibilities of what we can do are endless! Let’s not short change ourselves or what we can do. Every little ripple we send out there grows and grows and hopefully inspires others to do the same until we make a mighty wave.

Never think that what you do doesn’t matter. Because it does!

So, here’s to 2020. Here’s to looking for the good. Learning from the bad. And making this year a glorious one!

Love and kisses everyone!

See you next year! 😉

Darlene

The moments in-between~by Joanne Jaytanie

So, here we are. A new year just around the bend. Not only a new year. A new decade. I don’t know about you, but a new decade sounds daunting to me. Where did this decade go? 

We’ve all aged ten years. We’ve experienced fabulous years and painful years. It’s natural, I suppose, to recall the best and the worst of every year. To focus on the tears you’ve shed and the celebrations you’ve basked in. 

But what about all the little, everyday things in-between? Enjoying a conversation and a cup of coffee with a friend. Taking a walk with your dog in the quiet morning before the world around you wakes. Discovering your next favorite book or movie. Making a new friend. Welcoming a new puppy or kitty into the family. Finding a new hobby. 

When you stop and think about it, it’s the small stuff that serves as the glue to hold your day, your week, and even your year together. These are the moments that fill in and all around the milestones of your life. 

Revel in your milestones. But don’t forget to appreciate the everyday moments, for they are the foundation of our lives.

Wishing you a joyous 2020 filled with magical moments and a magnificent milestone or two. 

Until next time...

Joanne

To read Joanne's past posts click here to visit her page.