Creative Resolutions

I don't know about you, but each year I find myself challenged by the act of coming up with a worthy resolution for the New Year, so I return to those penned by Woody Guthrie in 1943 as a spark and a guide for mine – even if I choose not to set a resolution.

(I also love keeping Woody's legacy alive with younger generations who might not have developed an appreciation for his genius. And yes – I will be re-running Woody's rulin's again next year because they're worth it.)

Woody's resolutions are creative (Keep Hoping Machine Running), poignant (Love Mama), ambitious (Write A Song A Day), motivating (Wake Up and Fight), and, unfortunately, timeless (Beat Fascism).

I really just love these rulin's. I'm not certain they will lead me, or you, to set a hard and fast resolution for the year, one that we don't forget and lament within a fortnight's time, but they give us insight into how a creative storyteller who lived a life of social impact approached this simple exercise.

If they inspire me to come up with my own this year, I'll be sure to share it here.

And how about you? Any resolutions you'd like to share with us?

Godspeed, friends.

Russ

💬 Quote of the Week

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." Arundhati Roy

💥 Quick Hits

• Big Inspiration from the Big Sky State – We wrote awhile back (Showdown at the Climate Corral) about a group of young plaintiffs in Montana suing the state for violating their constitutional rights to a healthful environment. The youths won the lawsuit, and the State then appealed. Montana's Supreme Court recently ruled 6-1 against the State, upholding the original landmark decision. The State will now have to review the greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts of any fossil fuel project permits.

• Best illustrations of 2024 – If, like me, you're a lover of the fine art of illustration, here's one last chance to look back at 2024's best from the New York Times. They are an eyeful.

• An old word for the New Year – While we're talking about resolutions, how many of you will perform a "Novation" this year? While attorneys use it as a term in contract law, we can expropriate it from those clinical confines and use it as the old Scottish intended: What old idea or practice will you replace with a new one?

📜🖋 Poetry with Purpose

Yes, I foist poetry upon you from time to time as a bit of soulful medicine. Godspeed reader Don Heymann posted this gem on LinkedIn and I just couldn't resist.

Need help in some way? Or have a story idea, question, or request? Perhaps a social entrepreneur we should interview? Let us know – We're here to help. Just reply to this email with whatever you've got. See you next week.