CREATIVE THINKING: Start the new year with a fresh slate

I have always loved to communicate using both words and pictures. You can ask my grammar school teachers. Without hesitation, they will tell you I talked my way through school.

As a result, I was usually assigned the monotonous task of repeatedly writing the single sentence, "I will not talk in class!"

I usually wrote it on lined notebook paper, but sometimes I had to go to the front of the class and actually write it on the dark green chalkboard. The chubby white piece of chalk made it difficult to execute perfect penmanship, but I tried with all my might.

Even during my punishment writing sessions, I wanted to be the best student I possibly could and certainly wanted my teachers to approve of my performance.

To return to my teachers' good favor, I would volunteer to erase the chalkboard or take the erasers outside to clean them. I would vigorously bang two erasers together until a dust storm left traces of chalk here and there and white residue on parts of my clothes and face.

I also received brownie points on occasion by drawing a colorful picture to give to my teacher. It didn't take me long to realize the gift of artwork is always a good idea for reversing disappointment. It usually brought a smile to my teacher's face -- and to mine.

It was important to me that everything I touched be perfect. Perfection certainly wasn't expected by my parents or teachers, but I demanded it of myself.

I clearly remember writing homework in long-hand trying to make each letter as closely as I could to the examples attached to the wall above the chalkboard. I understand that cursive is no longer taught but, back in the dark ages, it was required. I can still see the broken lines in the middle indicating how far up the lower case letterforms should be.

I think I got most of my practice from the days when I talked too much.

God forbid I make a mistake three-quarters of the way down the page. If I did, I wouldn't even consider granting myself permission to do a dreaded cross out. Without a second thought, a fresh piece of paper was gathered and I started completely over from the very beginning.

Today when I look back, I realize much of my time was wasted trying to achieve perfection. As the years ticked by, I came to some sort of peace with my imperfections. We all need to try to be the best we can be -- but none of us is perfect.

As I thought about that classroom chalkboard, I remembered seeing my teacher start at one end and work her way down the entire length until it was completely clean. She definitely used some elbow grease to erase the daily writings of the class. I would watch with amazement as math problems disappeared and words vanished. When she finished, it was literally a clean slate.

As we enter this new year, we all need to wipe our slates clean and begin fresh. We owe that to ourselves. I'm certainly going to give it a try. What will it hurt?

This new year is waiting to lead us down different paths, to introduce us to new possibilities and to point us in exciting new directions. But, before we can embrace it, we have to give ourselves permission to erase all the clutter from our 2015 blackboard.

As we begin to fill up our fresh chalkboard, instead of seeking perfection we need to approach the things in our lives with the best of our abilities. Little changes can make big differences.

Now, if I can just learn how to talk less and listen more. I certainly need to work on that!

Mark Ballard's column runs each week in The Telegraph. Send your questions or comments to P.O. Box 4232, Macon, GA 31208; call 478-757-6877; email markballard@cox.net; follow him at instagram.com/markcreates; or become a subscriber to Mark's Facebook page.

This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 4:26 PM with the headline "CREATIVE THINKING: Start the new year with a fresh slate ."