A Grateful New Year

I woke up this morning as grateful as always. Fletcher’s lyrics weaved into my thoughts, little braids of curiosity. Before I could forget, I wrote the title Antidote on my bedside notebook in case I find it relevant later. I woke my daughter up for school and let Luna outside to go potty. I put a scoop of food in the puppy bowl and headed for the coffee machine. After I started it, I stared at the calendar on the refrigerator partially entranced by the sound of the brew. Where did November go?

21 Days Until Christmas

It’s Wednesday, December 4th, 2024. This is normally when I panic because Christmas is only three weeks away – three weeks!!! As usual, I don’t have a single present under my tree yet. This year is different though. Two out of three of my children have crossed into adulthood and the oldest moved out a couple of months ago. Christmas is filled with less pressure than ever before. Although my daughter’s list has grown exponentially this year, I’ve noticed the focus of her list has shifted to more practical adult items. What a relief to be through the days of buying slime kits and video games!

28 Days Until the New Year

One week later comes New Year’s Day. New Year’s Day has always felt significant in my life. Clean slates and fresh starts feel hopeful no matter how often they occur. This New Year’s feels more spiritual than the ones previously. I can’t explain it logically because physically, I’m in the same place I was when the year started. If you could journey through my mind though, the two neighborhoods would look nothing alike. This year has been the most transformational. To match, this New Year’s Day feels the most important.

41 Trips Around the Sun

Part of me wonders if the increased momentum is due to it being my fortieth New Year’s Day. I filled my fortieth year with as much growth as I could grasp. My year of extraordinary change concludes one week later. Seven days after we ring in the new year, I start a new trip around the sun. Forty-one will be my year of connection. That’s my word of the year. Connection. Connection to Self, the people I love, nature, and the universe that guides me. I have no idea what is next for me. For the first time, that doesn’t scare me! I’m so grateful for another year!