Beyond the Barricade

This is the poster we printed out and will hang in our home throughout 2013:

Somewhere beyond the barricade, is there a world you long to see?

         I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. 
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.
You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're
Doing Something.  
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself.
Make New Mistakes.  Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that 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're scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

Neil Gaiman

There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. 
You may feel that you are defeated. 
The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. 
At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath.  
But remember—David did win! 
Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required.
"Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the saying, 
'I will try again tomorrow.'"
President Thomas S. Monson

This is the theme that Dan and I chose for our family for this year.  We want to encourage all of us to try to new things, even at the risk of making mistakes. Obviously, we aren't encouraging serious moral mistakes, but we are encouraging every member of the family to try hard things - and what is hard is different for each of us.  Last Monday we had a family home evening in which we built a "barricade" out of furniture and blankets. Then we talked about the symbolism of a barricade. This was especially resonant because we all love Les Miserables and all (except Joseph) just saw the movie.  "Beyond the barricade, is there a world you long to see?" is one of my favorite lines, from the last song of the play/movie.  

We talked about how we each have a "world we long to see".  But, life is about overcoming obstacles, so we each have individualized "barricades" in our way. We talked about what some of these barricades might be and what we need to do to climb over or break down the barricades and continue on our way to the world we long to see.  Just like the revolutionaries who sing the song in Les Mis, the first step is envisioning what is on the other side of the barricade and what life would be like without the obstacles.  

This year we are going to try new things, even when we are frightened or discouraged. Even when it is hard and painful and uncomfortable.  We're not going to let a fear of making a mistake, doing it wrong, not being perfect, hold us up.  Because what is beyond the barricade is wonderful.