I love Christmas cards. I sent them for years. I stopped sending them to save money a few years back. And I continue the non-practice because I’m lazy. I enjoy reading holiday newsletters, seeing kids’ pictures and basking in the joyful sentiments. For the last two years, my friend Robert sent out these poetic season greetings. I see words as art. So, these salutations are wondrous to me.
These 2012 phrases especially resonate as I consider 2013 in retrospect…
- to being there in good times – I had plenty of these. The brightest and best was my 50th birthday. I was celebrated.
- to not leaving in bad times – Although I’m blessed to have had less bad than good times, the bad were pure rotten. I survived them from the prayers and positive energy of people who supported me.
- to knowing when you’re done – We ended our theatre podcast initiative. It’s hard to quit something that garnered so much time, energy and enthusiasm. Yet, it is freeing to let go of what isn’t working despite the effort.
- to dancing ‘til dawn – I haven’t stayed up until dawn in a long time. And I didn’t dance as much as I could have in 2013. It’s something I’d like to change this year.
- to being who you are – Daily writing has given me a reflective voice. I get to express my thoughts. I get to be me… unedited.
- to being who you want to be – I use my writing to grapple out loud both the teeny and pinnacle day-to-day moments as I struggle to be a better person.
- to what we have now – At this time in my life, I spend more time appreciating what I have. And I spend less time fantasizing what might be.
Robert’s newest wishes for 2014 are again wonderfully contemplative. As the year commences, I’m hoping to focus on…
*to fearlessness – Although I am a bold person, there are aspects of my life that I don’t tackle with the same unabashed determination. I want to wade out into that unknown.
*to selflessness – As a single gal, my needs are my natural and constant objectives. Without neglecting myself, I need to be less self-absorbed.
*to discovery – The a-ha moments in life are what I live for. I’m a student always. I want to actively broaden my knowledge.
*to possibility – This is one of my favorite words and philosophic notions. I don’t know what’s possible until I try.
*to peace – Internal and global! I want to be practicing a lifestyle that promotes both.
Thank you again, Robert, for toasting the New Year in your eloquent and whimsical manner. Here’s to you, too!