Looking Ahead

Those of you who’ve been following me for a while know that I recently started eschewing New Year’s Resolutions (almost invariably abandoned by February) in favor of adopting a mantra to guide me (you can read previous posts on the subject here and here). This is the time of year that I both look back (which you’ll likely read about in an upcoming post) and ahead; where I take stock of where I’ve been and where I want to go next. As the days lengthen, I spend a fair amount of time evaluating potential mantras for the coming year, trying to narrow it down to one “umbrella” that covers all of what I’d like to welcome into my life.

My first candidate was MOVE. The events of recent years (quarantine, injury, and occasional withdrawal to regroup) have made me just a little too comfortable becoming more sedentary. The last thing an aging bod with osteoporosis, not to mention a, shall we say, “busy” mind, needs. And yes, I still walk a lot and do Pilates regularly, but I want to break up the long stretches in between. I want to get back in the pool (I will prevail over the raccoon), and complete little projects around the house, and take some fun classes at the new yoga studio nearby. I want to walk around while I talk on the phone, or treat the dog to an extra walk, or stretch or dance instead of scrolling.

Then I thought, well, wait, you still haven’t found your local community. So, CONNECT became the next contender. I’ve been making some progress in that area (cultivating a local friendship, taking classes, going to happy hours) but still long for the kind of network I had back in Stepford. Before I give that up as a fond delusion, I’d like to try to put myself out there a bit more; to volunteer or join a writer’s group, for example.

Eventually, I hit on the perfect (if I do say so myself) mantra that not only can encompass both of these, but most of the things that are important to me: STAY CURIOUS.

If I stay curious, I’ll come up with more ways to move my body and move through stagnant energy.

If I stay curious, I’ll discover more ways to connect with people near and far and more places to do so.

Also

If I stay curious, I’ll learn about others’ point of view (I wrote about that here), which can only help

interpersonal relations on every level.

If I stay curious, I can continue to process the tumultuous events of the last ten years without numbing.

If I stay curious, I’ll be led to the next right thing rather than struggling to choose a path.

If I stay curious, I can pause to name and feel my feelings, and maybe even ask what they’re trying to tell me.

If I stay curious, I can keep exploring and learning, about myself and the world.

If I stay curious, I can continue to heal and grow, and to pay that forward.

So, I’ll be posting a graphic on my mirror and making some sub-par crafts to remind myself.

May you all find your mantra for the days ahead.

***

Thanks for reading.

GOOD THINGS

My book! I’m getting lots of positive verbal reviews of Rising and hope to be sharing similar written ones soon.

Holiday spirit. Because the CWP has her own place and is a consummate Christmas decorator, I considered going full Grinch and not doing even my Charlie Brown efforts this year. And I just couldn’t do it. I realized how much I depend on the tree lights, pathetic as they may be, to lift my spirits and make me smile.