I don’t know about you but I’m OK with saying good-bye to this year. It’s not been all bad, but it’s been far too rushed-stressed-scheduled-manic-busy for me. I don’t foresee that the work pace will slow but do I feel a shift in how I’m managing it: I’m speaking up more and saying “no thanks” where I can. I no longer feel responsible for everyone and everything. (No one asked me to do that, by the way, but that’s just how I rolled). The surprising part? No push back. Huh – should have done this long ago!
Having (most of) this week off has allowed time for reflection. To think about what I’ve done, what I’ve learned, what I want and where I’m going – here are my Random 5 thoughts on the cusp of a new year:
1 Traditions can change and you can, too. Everything about this Christmas was different – everything. What day we all got together. What we ate, how we managed gifts, who was here and how we spent our time. I loved it! Fewer decorations went up and came down sooner. We stayed in more. We rested – we cocooned. It was wonderful, magical, soul-restoring.
2 Family – this was our first Christmas without Mom and we all felt the pinch. My sister called late one night, her voice cracking, and as we connected our tears fell. She was just “having a moment” she said. “I get it,” I said. We told our stories and cried and laughed and gave thanks for a Mother so joyfully recalled.
3 Gifts – the best gifts are those that cost little but take time and effort and come straight from the heart: this year I made our boys a family recipe book. It’s not perfect and it wasn’t professional but the joy I felt as they sincerely reveled in it was my gift. I teased that I chose a red binder for a reason – likening it to the President getting the Nuclear codes – and that they’d best guard it closely. They assured me they would. 😀
4 Epiphanies abound, case in point: When we go out socially, I yearn for interesting and fun conversations. When those don’t happen I withdraw or get frustrated. Crap – I’m a conversation snob!! Hubbs and I can have hours-long meandering conversations and I shouldn’t assume they’re available everywhere.
Great conversations make me happy!
5 Here comes the New Year. We’re heading out tonight for Japanese Hibachi dinner with a host of friends. I’ll find something sparkly to wear and hope for good conversations. I’ll take a breath and look around and give thanks for the chance to do it all over again next year. ~ Happy New Year all!
photo from flickr
“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Years Day.” ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce
