I will not be using the FB “year in review” nor perusing the many similarly titled articles in print and social media. I remember enough of 2014 without prompting. There were some great moments – travel, time spent with friends, parties, events, and just serene moments. And there were some pretty awful moments, mainly at funerals for people too young to be passing. Every year is that kind of mix, I suppose, though the highs seemed a little higher and the lows a little lower this year.
I am very grateful for the people in my life. More than anything, I want to be fully in the present and working toward an engaging future, rather than re-hashing past. There’ll be time for that later most likely. Spontaneity is fun, but working toward something – career, hobbies, relationships, projects – seems to make your luck happen rather than hope for it.
The retailers lead our subconscious into believing life is an endless loop for seasons and seasonal purchases – too much food for Thanksgiving, superfluous gifts for Christmas, fattening candy at Valentine’s, green beer at St Pat’s, and so on. The cycle quickens and the years go faster when you live by rote…but grappling with any given day’s opportunities & challenges, looking that day square in the eye, figuring it out, and living. Well, that beats a mindless cycle. Oh there is nothing wrong with traditions and seasons and annual events – just grab that day and squeeze some life out of it.
Don’t make a list of resolutions about exercise and weight loss (not that I’m against those goals) but make a lists of things you want to do and places you want to go…some of which might require you to be in slightly better shape! I’ll definitely be more intentional about doing my morning push ups if there is a rock climbing adventure a couple of months ahead. Okay, maybe I will not be rock climbing this year, but I’ll be doing something new & different. Because that is the engagement I need, we need, to be fully alive.
Have fun in 2015!
