If at first you don't succeed...

I heard Colter's voice calling me from the bathroom the other day, "Mommy, 'If at first you don't succeed, redefine success!' I read it in The New Yorker."

My 10-year-old son was sitting in the bathroom, reading The New Yorker. OK, it was a cartoon. But honestly, that's why I buy the magazine, so who am I to judge?

Plus, the cartoon's caption captured perfectly my feelings about 2006 as it comes to a close.

These days, I define success as:

• Surviving
• Enjoying the moment: Reading a lot, rediscovering television, knitting
• Celebrating my son for snuggling softly and carefully with me, developing his unnatural athleticism so well he was drafted in the first round for a Community Center basketball team, receiving straight A's during his most emotionally difficult semester
• Appreciating my husband's strength, sensitivity and sense of humor
• Connecting kindly with the world

I've been inspired by many great quotes about life, love, work, success, failure and more, compiled here. I've learned that success often looks and feels like failure. But as long as the clock is ticking forward, we go on. And the clock always ticks forward. We can't know where its progressing path will lead us. We can just follow it, one second, minute, hour, day at a time.

If there's one song that describes this year for me, it's "Another Day" from "Rent."

There is no future
There is no past
I live this moment as my last
There's only us
There's only this
Forget regret
Or life is yours to miss
No other road
No other way
No day but today ...

There's only yes
Only tonight
We must let go
To know what's right
No other course
No other way
No day but today ...

There's only now
There's only here
Give in to love
Or live in fear
No other path
No other way
No day but today.

May the days to come be healthy and happy ones for you and all you love.

Comments

[SK]

Wow! You edit DotMoms, work as an editor, and you are mom and you have time to read all the books to the left? Wow! I am impressed. That is great.

I am blog surfing to find mothers to contribute to a new e-magazine that I am developing called Mother to Mother. Go to http://www.motheroftwosguide.com/contribute.shtml for details. We are always looking for new articles, photos, product testers, etc.

Hope to hear from you!

[Elizabeth]

Hi there, my name is Elizabeth and I work with the Thymes. I am posting a comment because we're really excited about a new bath & body line that we're launching called the Sweetleaf Baby Collection. I would love to get the word out because it's an amazing product that all moms should know about.

Sweet and gentle, the Thymes Sweetleaf Baby Collection combines the delicate essence of babies with the soothing qualities of nature. A mild, organic blend of tranquil lavender and serene chamomile creates a soft scent that is fresh, clean, and completely irresistible. Composed of aloe vera and protective vitamin E, the collection contains only the finest of ingredients to care for tender, newborn skin. The Thymes Sweetleaf Baby Collection is dermatologist tested for mildness, formulated for sensitive skin and the Baby Wash & Shampoo is tear-free, pledging that baby’s eyes will be protected. The Thymes is also pleased to announce that the Sweetleaf Baby Collection is Paraben free - something that all moms should be aware of and begin using products that are made Paraben-free.

Here is a direct link (just cut and paste) to the home page for the new collection - I hope you will consider purchasing this for your newborn or someone else's precious little one.

Thanks!

http://www.thymes.com/thymes/collection.aspx?nodeid=45523

[Kimberley]

Very cool blog.
I'll keep checking in.

[angel]

now THAT i like! i think i'm going to "adopt" it as my slogan for this year too!

[Chel]

I was never so glad to see a year end as 2006! It brought lots of good changes and lots of lessons learned, but it was a difficult year. I am confident that 2007 will be better for both of us.

[Kris]

Happy New Year to you and your family! May 2007 bring you much health and happiness.

[Becky]

Happy New Year!

[Toni]

Happy New Year to you too, Julie! I'm so happy to read how you're coming around, and I wish you great health and happiness in 2007.