Well. Here we all are. Ten days into the new year. We made it!   Take a breath; pause for a moment.  Reflect and review. Whether it was a good year, great year, mediocre year, or down right nasty year, you made it. That counts! It counts for more than we give it credit for. Life ain’t easy and it sure ain’t all fun and games, eh? That’s ok. Lessons are learned, knowledge is gained. Spirit grows.

 

Did you all make New Year Resolutions? Maybe create some goals or make some new commitments? Or are you a list maker? Checking off those accomplishments as you traverse the new year? I know a lot of people that do those things. That just isn’t something I do. Instead of feeling proud of the accomplishments, I end up looking at the failures or goals I never reached. Not the intended mark, that’s for sure.  So instead, my years usually have themes. Sometimes I know them ahead of time. I sense a spark of inspiration in a word, song, phrase and I run with it. Other years it takes me some time to recognize the lessons brought before me. However you approach it, a new year is a great opportunity for spiritual or personal growth. And part of keeping healthy is keeping the mind and soul healthy as well. So, if you aren’t a resolution type, perhaps themes is your cup of tea? Maybe you have been noticing little signs that the Universe is trying to get your attention? Maybe there have been a string of coincidences? Maybe you have a nagging feeling or sudden inspiration? Or maybe an idea has been a little more subtle; like a little seed planted and finally starting to grow? Listen. Feel. Tune in. It might be there, waiting for you to recognize and act. Sometimes it is things you are interested in. Sometimes it is things you need instead of want. For example…………

 

2011 was my year of spirit. I was tired of how humanity was treating each other and felt that surely there were others that felt like me. I stepped back from social media and turned inward. It was a time of connections and lessons and new career paths.

2012 was my year of health changes. Not the usual diets and exercise routines, but a reevaluation of MY health. A fevered search for new answers, new ways of living, and new foods that could help me.

2014 was my tough year. That was my year of honesty and authenticity. I was tired. There seemed to be an appalling amount of the ‘fake it til you make it’ individuals out there. Social media was an outlet for beings to let loose their judgments, their condemnation, and their smug attitudes. I had had enough. I was calling people out. I have not, nor will I ever think that someone is less or more than someone else. And using an electronic screen as a veil to hide behind all while screaming hatred and judgment is not ok in my book. It never will be. So that was my battle year.

2016 was my year to open a closed off piece of me. It was my year of love. I was reminded that not all out there are purposely trying to hurt each other. I was guided to new people and new connections. I learned to open up and love again.

2017 was my year to heal. It was about opening up and embracing experiences. It brought up things long buried and forgotten and helped me let them go. It was my freeing year. Make no mistake, it was not always an easy period. But cathartic and necessary for sure.

2018?  This year’s theme seems to be about acceptance. There is a reawakening of who I was, an awareness of who I became, and now an acceptance of those differences/changes needs to take place. It is a slow process for sure. Painful at times. But I am understanding now; it’s OK to be me. And I don’t have to have a thin version and an overweight version. I can just be me. I think I will get there. I hope I will get there. And if not, eh, that’s what life is all about, right? It’s nothing more than a series of tries sprinkled with a plethora of emotions.

Having chronic illness taught me a lot over the years. Difficult lessons like learning to reset to a new normal or that not all people will be understanding/compassionate about new limitations. But it also gave me simple lessons. The simplest of all? That every year  every day every MOMENT is a blessing. Oh, some of those moments are so difficult. Some of those moments hurt. But even those days let me know that I am still here, I am still living. The New Year is always a celebration. Not from a holiday standpoint but rather a personal one. I view life as a gift. It is something to be cherished and valued; not to be squandered or taken for granted. I hope each of you either already see it that way or will soon.

We all live with difficulties and face challenges. None of us are immune. We all have our own limitations and coping levels. I know that chronic illness is not a free pass to be an ass. I am very mindful on my high pain or low energy days. The very last thing I want to do is unintentionally hurt someone. I know that challenges and bad times are not an excuse to lash out. That can be difficult. But we all go through stuff. Just because I am having a bad time doesn’t mean I can take it out on everyone else. No matter what, I try to remember: kindness, compassion, and above all, love. I truly believe that without love, we have nothing.  I hope you all have that in your lives as well, no matter where you are in your journey. I hope you can give those courtesies to others.  If you just cannot give those to someone else right now, start with yourself. Be gentle. Be kind. It is now a new year. A place to start fresh. Reset. Deep breaths…. one foot in front of the other…..just keep trying.

Like that famous little Dory fishy says, “Keep on swimming!”. Ready…set…. And….. go!