Two thousand twenty three and no/100

Yes, it’s that time of year again! Time to re-evaluate, reroute, rewrite, rethink, rewire, renew, and basically overhaul your lifestyle because of the date. Excuse me? I don’t know about you, but I find this matter slightly disconcerting. I am not built this way, and maybe you’re not either. Let me put it to you in other words.

I started last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, day after day, day in and day out to begin better habits for the coming of each new year. I do not find it helpful to set unrealistic goals and expectations upon myself come January because the calendar pages turn. There’s always going to be another January -they seem to come at least once a year! Now you can call me simple, but I’m thinking (hoping) there’s going to be another January before I die. So, I find it useful to start a good habit, say in July, or November. This helps me to keep moving forward positively and resolutely. I’d like to think that I could be strong and teachable, on any given day.

I heard a quote the other day stating that clutter is simply unmade decisions. You know, like that box full of memories from your grandmother who passed away about 25 years ago. You can’t decide what to do with it, to unpack it, to give it away, or even the decision to just leave it sitting there with all the other boxes of old papers, and books, and clothes, and shoes, and coats, and dishes that you’re never going to use…ever again. Please trust me on this one. I have taken a few extra spins around the sun and perhaps know a little about decision making and collecting things.

In my finite wisdom and excellent decision making processes, I have as of late, made five decisions towards my lifetime of possessions: there will not be another bakery, I will not open a bookstore, I will not open a bed-and-breakfast, there will be no rock band that I am to be the lead singer/lead guitarist of, and I will not own a wonderfully organized and well-stocked, indoor riding arena/stable. This has begun to reduce clutter in my household and in my mind. You may think this all sounds cynical and that I’ve lost hope, but that is far from the truth. It’s called being realistic, which is something I’ve been quite unfamiliar with! I believe I may have a new found freedom in being more realistic and focusing my attention on things that actually matter.

Let’s ponder for a moment things that may actually matter. How about more wonderment and less wondering why. This thought seems freeing, somehow bringing less self-imprisonment in the mind —an accepting of the unacceptable of sorts.

What if we had more remembrance and less ungratefulness. We could focus on the good things in our lives, the good people in our lives, the good words spoken into our lives, and less on complaining and dashing everybody around us against the rocks trying to compare our lives with others.

What if we gave more forgiveness hence carrying less heavy baggage? Take it from me, unforgiveness is a large backpack filled with old rocks that need to hit the ground. This may even include forgiving ourselves.

How about if we took self care for a spin and left exhaustion on the curb? What if we really did have less imaginative troubles and more real ones like: I might have to put on an extra layer to go for a ten minute walk and get some new air in my lungs. Oh what joy and self introspection could there be with the wild Wyoming winds whipping my hair about my face? What about that cup of cold water that you forgot to drink today?

I think maybe the biggest take away from all these words is that on a day-to-day basis we could probably take time to clean up some details in our life that have been niggling us all along. This might free up mind space, home space, and heart space, thus giving us more of our sweet selves to give to others.

Saddle up Missy, we got a trail to blaze!

Love yous,

Diane