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By James Gardner

Clark County Public Library

It’s resolution time once again.

For some, the beginning of the year is often a happy time for those looking forward to another year, a chance for new beginnings, a whole other year of good times and great memories. A lot of people are simply looking for the opportunity to start over in the new year, but sometimes those new beginnings can feel very far away, or that they are behind a tall mountain that must be climbed.

I know that feeling of how a New Year’s resolution, or anything involving personal growth, can feel insurmountable. However, J. R. R. Tolkein Day was on Jan. 3rd, and that puts me in mind of a very famous mountain climber. Or at least the person who helped that climber.

Those familiar with “Lord of the Rings” know who Frodo is, whether from the fantasy novels by Tolkien or from the movies by Peter Jackson. He’s the hero that carried the One Ring into Mordor so that it could be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. As a hobbit, he is remembered as a hero who stood up to adversity despite being under four feet tall and carried a heavy load despite needing a car seat if he were riding in a car today. While I’m not discounting Frodo’s accomplishments, this column pays tribute to Frodo’s companion throughout the journey, one Samwise Gamgee.

Samwise, played brilliantly by Sean Astin in the Jackson films, might seem like a mere second fiddle or straight man to Frodo, but Samwise (or Sam) is so much more. I daresay he is the true heart of the series, picking Frodo up when the responsibility becomes too much and offering much needed encouragement to his friend Frodo. When Frodo felt like giving up, Sam told him “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo,” Sam told him, “And it’s worth fighting for.” And there are times where we are the good in this world, that our selves are worth fighting for.

Just as there are or will be many pitfalls and obstacles that threaten to derail our resolutions for the new year, that is the time to decide to fight to keep those resolutions, even if you don’t get a chance to go for your run that day or decide to sneak a piece of dessert. Such stumbles should not force us off the path to where we want to be or more importantly who we want to be. Samwise’s unwavering loyalty and his belief in something better helped Frodo complete his journey, even when it felt like everything taller than them, which was most things, stood against them. There may be things that seem large standing against you, mountains that seem insurmountable, but remember that those mountains can be traversed and that you and all that’s good about you are worth fighting for.

A love for potatoes is completely optional. Read the book or see the movie and you can get that joke.

And you can also check out these programs at the library:

From 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 4th, the library will be having Adult Storytime. Sit, enjoy some snacks, have some fun, and listen to some classic and contemporary stories being read aloud. Feel free to bring your favorite short story to read and share with others.

On Saturday, Jan. 6th, at 2 p.m., the library presents Bullet Journaling 101. A bullet journal is a fully customizable system used for organizing, scheduling, reminders, to-do lists, brainstorming, and other organizational tasks into a single notebook! Learn how to start your own bullet journal and be given plenty of ideas of how to make this planner system work for you this year.

On Sunday, Jan. 7th, from 2–4 p.m., Paint with Sher will let you paint a snowman scene! Space is limited; please register.

Also on Sunday, Jan. 7th, from 2–4 p.m., writer Bill McCann will do a book reading for his latest “God Hires Gardeners,” a collection of 21 flash fiction stories based on Bible stories but with a modern twist. Bill will read at the top of each hour then answer questions and sign books. (Available for purchase, or bring your own copy)