This is an entirely different blog than I set out to write. The initial draft was loosely titled, “What I Learned about Christmas from Reading “The Nutcracker””. It was cute and witty (if I do say so myself) and rather succinct on many levels. As I was congratulating myself on my efforts to be profound, it occurred to me that I was on the wrong track.
Christmas to most of us is a tradition rolled up into a huge, glittery ball of hope for the future. Christmas is the Nativity, a reminder that there is something or someone greater than our self in the Universe to which we extend our gratitude. Christmas is also about good,
old-fashion common sense.
I’m not referring to the wisdom of diminishing your holiday stress, buying fewer gifts or debating the existence of Santa or Jesus. I am talking about pausing a moment to celebrate yourself, to acknowledge where you were at the beginning of the year and just how far you’ve come. Be proud of all your successes, resolute to do even better in the coming New Year. Take notice of the areas in your life that need a tweak or two. If I know anything at all, it is that history tends to repeat itself. If we don’t learn from our mistakes each year, we are destined to repeat them.
Looking back, this particular year has been an eye-opener. I have recognized more of my strengths and tried to reduce my overall weaknesses. I am happy to report that I have been correct more than I’ve been wrong, sensitive more times than harsh and loving more often than not, but that’s hardly saying much at all. When I am “off my game”, I am spectacularly off, know what I mean? I’m working on that, I swear, but I am human.
A positive attitude changes lives. It certainly changed mine.
I’ve learned new things, and have altered my opinions on countless others. I’ve been able to tell a story while interjecting common sense solutions that empower without being too preachy. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with smart, uber supportive individuals that value and respect your opinion— friends and colleagues that open your mind to limitless possibilities. I am blessed to have all that, and so much more.
My personal mental health shtick and strength (I’ve been told) is adding heaping doses of common sense to my commentaries. I still don’t have all the answers. It confounds me why the concept of deciding to do what you are supposed to do, that special decision-making skill that benefits the most people and does the least harm is more difficult for some to understand than others. Perhaps not knowing the right thing to do is simply a lack of experience or education, but choosing not to do the right thing is quite the opposite. In my world, doing the right thing is always common sense.
When I fail at something, fear is likely a major factor. We are fallible beings. The very act of failing at a worthwhile attempt implies forward momentum and growth if you are learning something from the process. Not achieving a particular goal is far healthier than resting on past laurels and successes.
This is exactly where a few highlights of my “Year of Growth ” begin, in no particular order. Perhaps you will find something to relate to in this brief review , as well.
I never wanted to write a blog. There, I said it. I love to write, always have, even as a child. Putting myself and my opinions “out-there immediately” on the internet has never been an interest of mine. At the time I was approached to pen a blog (February 2015) I had just finished writing three full-length books in a span of two years while earning certification as a spiritual counselor. I had legitimate reasons why I did not want to write a blog, the most honest being that I felt I was brain dead with nothing to offer at all! However, it wasn’t until a new colleague suggested that I could easily be misinterpreted as an “internet troll” (I didn’t even know what that meant) by interjecting “common sense” into responses on inflammatory internet sites that I started to reevaluate my opposition to blogging. Clearly I had something to say, and if I wanted to be taken seriously as a writer, I needed to overcome my fear of writing a blog (which was also a requirement of the job) and establish a forum. Today, writing a blog is an extension of my writing passion. I learn much from my colleagues every single day, and they gain another prospective they seem to think is helpful and important from me. I love when that happens, don’t you?.
Retirement was not turning out exactly the way we thought it would. It had always been our dream to hop around the country from place to place, visiting the grandbabies and annoying our grown children with lengthy stays. Early in the planning process I had a major panic attack obsessing about what constituted “common sense compromises” that were needed to make our dream happen. No money, no dream. Hubby constantly reminded me that we weren’t getting any younger, that we were still in good health, and it was realistically “now or never”. Still, at one point we were selling everything and anything in the house on Ebay that wasn’t glued down in fear we might be acting “fiscally irresponsible”. Finally in July 2015, we purchased a fifteen year old Winnebago. Many of our concerns remained; What if we get sick on the road, the RV breaks down or we run out of money, etc…? These fears are born in possibility. After much discussion, planning and compromising, we both agreed to put our trust in each other and our continued faith in God and just go for it! Our decision to hit the road has even added a level of enthusiasm into our relationship that had somehow faded over the years. Now, every day we go sit in the rig on the side of our house and make exciting plans for when the snow melts.
We adopted two little furry bundles of unconditional love. Like many families, at any given time we had various quantities of dogs, cats, rabbits and mice underfoot in the house as pets for the kids while they were growing up. Children learn important lessons by caring for animals, but ours quickly became bonafide members of our family. The last of our beloved furry critters died well over ten years ago, and their passing devastated us for much longer than it should have. Throughout the years we swore never, ever again to get attached to any animal. In March 2015, our dear “Jake” (one-third Pomeranian and two-thirds poodle) entered our lives at exactly the right moment to infuse much needed bounce into our steps! In July we adopted a playmate for Jake, another Pomapoo named “Bella”. Our precious Bella is much, much smaller than Jake in size and weight— akin to having a new baby in the house that will never grow up! We constantly ask ourselves how we managed to survive this long without either of them. It galls us to think we wasted over ten years without pets because we were too frightened to have our hearts broken again!
Christmas and New Years are opportunities for honest reflection.
Actual living is what occurs between the being born and dying that separates and distinguishes us from everyone else. Surviving is what we do when we allow fear to cloud our vision and alter our resolve. Life will never be without its “monumental” (in the eye of the beholder) challenges, and thank God for that! The majority of us would choose the path of least resistance, and never grow as individuals in ways that matter if we were not tested from time to time!
So, get out there and experience life! Make lots of mistakes (we all do) and learn from them. Teach your children to learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others. Take chances, go out on a limb and challenge yourself. You aren’t getting any younger, you know. Use your God-given common sense to weather through and obstacle in your path. You can do it. We all can.
My wish for all of you this week and beyond is to have a holiday filled to the brim with child-like excitement of the “limitless possibilities” coming your way! May you enjoy Peace, Love and a Blessed, Holy Night this Christmas and a very, very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!