by Ali McGhee –

As each year passes, we grow.

But, the evolution that happens from day to day, moment to moment, sometimes doesn’t become apparent to us until a longer period has passed.

Everyone loves a fresh start. New Year’s resolutions are fun precisely because they’re not so much about the practical as they are about the imaginary. It might be odd to think of setting resolutions as a form of play, but that’s how I’m going to invite you to see it.

Below, you’ll find my picks for the most inspiring books to help ring in the New Year. Who knows: by 2017 you might be living in a cabin you built yourself, meditating like a Zen master, or making sauces to rival those of a Charleston chef. So this year, aim high, go big, and rock out.

As I write this, I am sitting downtown, listening to a particularly inspired (read: very loud) busker. I want nothing more than to creep away to a little place in the woods where the only sounds are the rushing of the creek and the whoop of coyotes in the wee hours of the morning. If you, too, are looking for “Inspiration for Your Quiet Place Somewhere,” get a copy of Cabin Porn, written by Zach Klein, with photographs by Noah Kalina.

Susan Piver’s Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation, is a slim, unpretentious, and totally accessible book that’s perfect for beginning or returning to your practice. A renowned Buddhist teacher and founder of the Open Heart Project, she writes with a grace and a clarity that might just give you the inspiration you need to dive into meditation and discover its many benefits.

This year I want to hike to more waterfalls and identify more wildflowers. Luckily, there’s a book for doing just that, and it’s fantastic. Waterfalls and Wildflowers in the Southern Appalachians: Thirty Great Hikes written by Timothy Spira.

Want to learn a new language this year? How about learning untranslatable words from multiple languages instead? Then Lost in Translation: An Illustrated Compendium of Untranslatable Words from Around the World, written by Ella Frances Sanders, is your perfect companion when you want to express something that has no direct English translation.

Some favorites: “Tiám: n., the twinkle in your eye when you first meet someone” (Farsi); and “Warmduscher: n., Refers to someone who would only take a warm shower (not an icy cold or burning hot one), implying that they are a bit of a wimp, and unwilling to step outside of their comfort zone” (this is totally me, by the way).

You may also be interested in Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking, written by Natalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubert. I mean, you might as well set the bar high.