A decade ago, I wrote:
May your coming year befilled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read somefine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don'tforget to makesome art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.
And almost half a decade ago I said,
...I hope you will havea wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously,that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, thatyou will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will havepeople to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (becauseI think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the worldright now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that youwill always be kind.
And for this year, mywish for each of us is small and very simple.
And it's this.
I hope that in this yearto come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are makingmistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things,learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing yourworld. You're doing things you've never done before, and moreimportantly, you're Doing Something.
So that's my wish for you,and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Makeglorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worrythat it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art,or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you'rescared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, nextyear and forever.
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Thanks Neil, you always do good New Years - Last year I really took it to heart, and must say, for one of your fans t least, it came true. Happy New Year.
Leah wrote: "Great post but you may want to check your grammar. (There are some spaces missing.)"leah, apologize to neil gaiman! i bet the spacing looks messed up because of the conversion of the texty computery gobbledygook from his original blog to goodreads. happy new year, you crazy (awesome) girl.
joanna wrote: "Leah wrote: "Great post but you may want to check your grammar. (There are some spaces missing.)"leah, apologize to neil gaiman! i bet the spacing looks messed up because of the conversion of th..."
Ahaha. Thank you, Joanna, but that's actually a different Leah! I would never correct Neil Gaiman on his grammar. I would just figure he meant it that way. But anyways. Ahaha. Happy new year to you too!!!
joanna wrote: "Leah wrote: "Great post but you may want to check your grammar. (There are some spaces missing.)"leah, apologize to neil gaiman! i bet the spacing looks messed up because of the conversion of th..."
Yeah, I would be that Leah (the one who corrected Neil Gaiman) and no I won't apologize. Happy New Year though.
Hi Neil, I was so glad I read this, short, sweet, and inspirational message. It reminds me of the Magic School Bus when the teacher used to always say: Take chances, make mistakes, get messy! This year I will endeavor to do all three!
I feel like I've made so many mistakes last year, in life, love, friendship, work and art, that I'm afraid to make anymore this year. My wish is that I will learn to accept the mistakes I've made, and if I continue to make them, that they will be ones that I can admit to whole heartedly. Thanks for the New Years Greeting, and by the way, I loved you on NPR's Wait Wait :)
You silly people. Obviously his spacing mistakes are intentional. It's part of making new mistakes =.=
This is just the push I needed. I've been thinking a lot about what the heck I should do with my life now that I'm out of school. I'm still trying to figure out my life, and I know it's a life-long process, but right now what I need is direction. Though I'm unsure of which way to go, I need to remember that it's ok to make mistakes because that's better than staying still. If I keep being so afraid to try new things, I'll never get anywhere. So thank you, Neil. Great message for all of us.
Leah wrote: "Great post but you may want to check your grammar. (There are some spaces missing.)"On purpose? The entire paragraph was about mistakes, afterall
Wonderful.May the New Year bring you the same, Mr. Gaiman! if that is the best that you wish upon us, it's only right to hope the same for you!
Paula wrote: "Leah wrote: "Great post but you may want to check your grammar. (There are some spaces missing.)"On purpose? The entire paragraph was about mistakes, afterall"
I agree. :)) MAKE MISTASKES!!!
Leah wrote: "Or you know, maybe, he messed up because nobody, not even an author, has perfect grammar."So right. :) No one can be right all of the time.
Nice post ... lovely sentiments. Wish doing it were all as easy as thinking and writing it, but the more we aspire, the more we can strive to make it happen. Hugs and happy year-ahead wishes, Mr. Gaiman!
