Reflections and Aspirations on 1 January

January first. Another new year. In some ways, 2021 seemed to last forever. Maybe it just seems that way because the days of 2020 and 2021 blurred together in seemingly endless restrictions and social distancing.

Then again, it seems like we just celebrated the 2021 new year, hoping for better days. In some ways, that did happen. In some ways, 2021 was more of the same. Regardless, while the days may have dragged, the months seemed to fly by as the weeks were marked off. And now here we are on the cusp of a new year.

For me, the first day of the new year means making plans for the new year as well as taking time to reflect back on the prior year.

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3 Fantastical Creatures I Love

Part III of my #WyrdandWonder fantastical adventure. (Read the first parts here and here.)

You enter the cottage and you tightly grip your sword. Darkness shrouds you as the door closes behind you. As you pause to let your eyes adjust, you see a faint light in the far corner.

With your sword in front of you, you slowly ease your way toward the dim light. As you approach the corner, you see a tiny glowing figure sniffling. Wee wings on its back shine iridescent from the miniature lantern sitting beside it. You think it’s a fairy. But fairies don’t exist. You shake your head in confusion and take a second look. It seems to be about six inches tall with wings and silvery-blond hair.

Since you don’t sense any immediate danger, you kneel down and ask, “Are you okay?”

The tiny figure looks up through silvery-blond hair. “I’m Petal Juniperglow. A goblin took my family and now I’m all alone” The fairy starts to cry again.

“Hi Petal. I’m . . . ” you pause. You can’t remember your name. “I’m actually not sure. The first thing I remember was waking up on the beach. I don’t know who I am or how I got to this land. But I will help you if I can.”

Petal wipes her eye. “You will? Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.” Her teeny hand grabs your index finger. She takes a long look at you. “Since you are lost but are willing to help me, I shall call you Aine because Aine was a great helper of my people.”

She stands up and flitters to your shoulder. “Okay, we should go get supplies, which are to the west. And we should try to recruit some more reinforcements from my clan, which is to the east.”

What do you do first?

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An Epic Fantasy Adventure

You stand on a beach at the edge of a forest. Behind you, a vast lake but no boat. You can’t remember what happened or how you ended up on the beach.

To your left, the beach slopes up to a rocky cliff where a ruined tower sits. To your right, you see a cave with a sign warning of ogres. In front of you, a dark forest path. You have a small, rusty sword, a bottle with an unknown potion, and a walking stick.

Which way do you go?

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