Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.01.2019, Blaðsíða 4

VISIT OUR WEBSITE LH-INC.CA
4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • January 15 2019
It’s the middle of January
and I’ve already succeeded
in breaking most of my
New Year’s resolutions, which
is just as well because I’ve been
pretty much recycling the same
resolutions for 30 years. Maybe
longer. The best of intentions on
the first day of the year usually
declines to “I’ll get to that next
week” by the middle of this
month and then “I’m quite
behind” by the end of February.
When spring arrives, I find a new
burst of energy but by summer I
eventually arrive at “what’s the
point?” I’m resisting the urge to
skip ahead to the last stage early.
The Yuletide season is
probably a poor time to make
resolutions. Indeed, it may be
the worst of all possible times to
do so. I’m usually so exhausted
by the end of the so-called
“Christmas break” that it takes
every ounce of my energy just
to sit down at my desk again
and begin wading through
everything that was left undone
as the year drew to its close. It
may be more realistic to simply
resolve that the next time this
season rolls around, I’ll just
wallow in excessive revelries and
perhaps even open myself to the
possibility of doing something
I’ll live to regret later. That’s a
promise I could probably keep
and, besides, I wouldn’t have
to get around to it for at least
another 11 months.
One resolution I’ve stopped
making is the promise to thin
out my library. At least, I’ve
decided not to set a specific
goal numerically. If I don’t set
myself up for failure, then I
can’t fail at the task. I recently
read that de-cluttering expert
Marie Kondo suggested that, in
ideal circumstances, we should
keep fewer than 30 books. I’m
pretty sure my personal library
was larger than that before I
started school, although I long
ago confessed that I didn’t read
a full-length book through from
cover to cover until I was an
adolescent. (As it happens, that
book was W.D. Valgardson’s
wonderful collection of short
stories, Bloodflowers.)
In fairness to Marie Kondo,
she’s not suggesting that we
shouldn’t read voraciously.
She’s saying that we shouldn’t
keep books around as household
ornaments. Once we’ve read a
book, we should pass it on. If we
feel the urge to keep it, perhaps
we need to read it again. And
then pass it on.
While an uncluttered
home may seem desirable,
an uncluttered mind has no
appeal for me – and my books
are extensions of my memory,
stirrings of my imagination, and
inspirations for better living.
At last count, my library had
reached 6,500 volumes, but I
think that was about 500 books
ago. (Yes, that’s one of the ways
I measure time.) What those
who call us to live simply may
see as thousands of books is for
me a single library. I have an
entire shelf of books on living
simply, conquering clutter, and
managing time – most of which
I have used in preparing for
sermons, workshops, and classes
– and though I no longer have
need to consult them frequently,
I’m not prepared to let them
go, either. Simplicity may be a
treasure, but simplistic advice
and arbitrary rules are a worse
form of captivity than clutter.
I admit that I live a cluttered
life – and I have resolved to
accept it. My home is also filled
with heirlooms from the past.
I’ve read several articles in recent
years that have suggested our
children and grandchildren don't
want our fine china, handcrafted
furniture, and ornaments.
The cynical authors of these
articles were never speaking
for me. I dwell surrounded by
the treasures of my ancestors.
Others are free to do what they
wish to do. But it’s one thing to
avoid being overrun by what
others have accumulated; it’s
another thing to be so allergic
to heirlooms and clutter that we
can’t see the value in anything
we didn’t acquire through our
own consumer choices.
Marie Kondo does offer one
useful principle to employ when
deciding whether or not to keep
something: does it bring you
joy? That is a useful insight and
I think I will make it my single
resolution to strive to keep this
year. I will endeavour to focus on
those possessions and activities
that bring me joy and the rest of
what surrounds me can pile up
and gather dust. When the pile
grows large enough, I’ll move
it to the garage or else give it
away. As long as I can conquer
my inner puritan, I think that’s a
resolution I can keep.
Stefan’s Saga
Stefan Jonasson
Editor
Lögberg-
Heimskringla
Published 24 times a year by
Lögberg-Heimskringla, Incorporated
Heimskringla stofnað 9. september 1886
Lögberg stofnað 14. janúar 1888
Sameinuð 1959
835 MARION STREET
WINNIPEG, MB R2J 0K6
PHONE: (204) 284-5686
RECEPTION: EXTENSION 101
TOLL FREE: 1-866-564-2374
FAX: (204) 284-7099
WWW.LH-INC.CA
LH@LH-INC.CA
Office Hours:
9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon. - Fri.
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
Audrey Juve Kwasnica
204.284.5686 Ext. 106 • audrey@lh-inc.ca
EDITOR
Stefan Jonasson
204.284.5686 Ext. 102 • stefan@lh-inc.ca
PRODUCTION MANAGER /
LAYOUT and DESIGN EDITOR
Catherine McConnell
204.284.5686 Ext. 103 • catherine@lh-inc.ca
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE /
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Jodi Dunlop
204.284.5686 Ext. 104 • jodi@lh-inc.ca
VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS
Linda Hammersley and Alicyn Goodman
PRINTING: The Winnipeg Sun
Commercial Print Division
PM No. 40012014
L-H gratefully acknowledges the generous
support of the Government of Iceland.
Please return undeliverable Canadian
addresses to: 835 Marion Street
Winnipeg MB R2J 0K6
Archived issues spanning 1886-2005
may be viewed at www.timarit.is
SUBSCRIPTIONS
SUBSCRIPTION: 24 issues/year
Canada: $60
USA: $60 US
International: $70 US
L-H online is free to all print subscribers
Online only: $45 CAD, payable in advance
DONATIONS
All donations to
Lögberg-Heimskringla Inc. are
tax-deductible under Canadian laws
Charitable Reg. # 10337 3635 RR001
Business # 10337 3635 RT 0001
FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
First 200 words and a picture
are free of charge
over 200 and pic $25.00
300 words and pic $50.00
400 words and pic $75.00
500 words and pic $100.00
750 word maximum and pic $150.00
Send to catherine@lh-inc.ca
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: Alicyn Goodman
VICE PRESIDENT: Gunnvör Asmundsson
TREASURER: Shawn Bjornsson
SECRETARY: Judy Richardson
BOARD MEMBERS
Margaret Amirault
Fred Bjarnason
Claire Eckley
Bruce Eyford
Natalie Guttormson
Kendra Jonasson
Dianne O'Konski
Erna Pomrenke
CANADA
Karen Botting Winnipeg MB
Joel Friðfinnsson Geysir MB
Stuart Houston Saskatoon SK
Signý McInnis Arborg MB
Paul Park Ottawa ON
USA
Shirley J. Olgeirson Bismarck ND
Rob Olason Bellingham WA
Steingrimur Steinolfson Bloomington MN
ICELAND
Kent Björnsson Reykjavík Ísland
NEWS CONTRIBUTORS
New Year's resolutions
Greetings from
Gordon J. Reykdal
Honorary Consul of the
Republic of Iceland
Suite #10250 – 176 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5S 1L2
Cell: 780.497.1480
E-mail: gjreykdal@gmail.com
L-H DEADLINES
EDITORIAL SUBMISSION
DEADLINES FOR
FEBRUARY 1, ISSUE 03
Monday January 14
FINAL EDITORIAL DEADLINE –
BREAKING NEWS ONLY
Friday January 18
Please advise the editor in advance if you are
sending a submission for the final deadline
FINAL ADVERTISING DEADLINE
Monday January 21
EDITORIAL SUBMISSION
DEADLINES FOR
FEBRUARY 15, ISSUE 04
Monday January 25
FINAL EDITORIAL DEADLINE –
BREAKING NEWS ONLY
Friday February 1
Please advise the editor in advance if you are
sending a submission for the final deadline
FINAL ADVERTISING DEADLINE
Monday February 4
$30.00 for the boys 2 piece set
88% cotton - 12% spandex
$40.00 for the stretch velvet girls nightgown
90% polyester - 10% spandex
Available sizes XS (4-5), S (6), M (7-8)
Made special for
Löberg-Heimskringla
Little boys and girls pj´s
with a unique image
of Icelandic children in
traditional dress
To order contact L-H:
(204) 284 5686 | 1-866-564-2374 | LH@LH-INC.CA
or shop online at: WWW.LH-INC.CA
Artwork by Slyencer
Sewing by SEAMS&BEYOND
PHOTO: JÖRG HERTLE / PIXABAY