How do I quantify my life? It's blessed. Food, clothing and shelter are taken care of. Russ and I have both had health issues, but mine are temporary and in light of Russ' Parkinson's, mine are nothing. Very few people make it through life without struggles, either mentally or physically. Few people are 'golden', with no worries, problems or serious money issues. So in the bigger picture for 2016, we are most definitely blessed.
In digging deep for realistic new year's resolutions, I have come up with a few hopes. I'd like to be more openly honesty with myself and also in how I relate to others. You know those times when a friend says "How are you doing?" and you say "Fine thank you and you?" or maybe you say "Great, thanks for asking." Well when it's a friend who honestly wants to know how you're doing and what they might be able to do to support you, perhaps I might say "Today's a good day, thanks". Honesty. In these aging years it is healthy to be honest with myself, it is healthy to be honest with others. When I need quiet time, take it. When I need a friend, call. When I'm sad it's OK if Russ knows. Honesty!
I'd like to be a better listener and less judgmental. Part of being less judgmental is being a better listener. That includes not thinking about my response to someone before they have even finished speaking! I knew a woman in VT named Liz and she was THE BEST listener I ever met. I want to be more like Liz. I want to listen. In listening, I hear. In hearing, I am not making a judgment on the visual or an assumption. You know how your mother used to say "Don't judge a book by it's cover"? By patient listening I am not judging a situation using my experiential background. By listening I hear someone else's perspective before I have put my own imprint on it. Listen!
And I'd like to take joy in what I have and not covet what others have…. unless maybe that's a trip to the beach! I have definitely gotten better through the years, enjoying my own 'riches' and not pining for what others have or think is important. But in today's world that's a hard one in reality. The barrage of advertising is insidious and subliminal. Perhaps it's age or perhaps it is our current life's circumstances, but taking joy in small pleasures is becoming quite easy. I want to continue the flow of that path. Take joy!
And then of course there is live in the moment. I can't, or shouldn't, spend my days worrying about the house selling. We are safe and warm, we have amazing folks living in the guest house, we have a great realtor who has our interests at heart and there is absolutely nothing I can do to make our house sell. That means live and enjoy each day we are here. It means I get to wake each morning to all the sunlight that floods this house. It means I get to enjoy our new kitchen. It means the meadow and forest I love so is outside my door and still at hand. It means all the wildlife continues to make me smile. It means I still have the loop to walk around. We are here as long as it takes to sell the house and I will live to love each of those days rather than fret about the sale or what we will find for a house when we are ready to move into Durango.
Happy New Year. May it bring peace, clarity and hope to all.