New Year, Same Old Me
Each January, I begin with a bright outlook. It will just take one turn of the page on my calendar and everything that has not been working, will suddenly shift. This is the year that things are really going to change! The ability to find and stay in a shape that makes both my doctor and me happy, comes with ease! (Maybe I developed an allergy to chocolate…or pie). Exercise becomes a thrill that gets me up and out of bed each morning. My finances take a turn for the incredible. This is the year I win the lottery or a forgotten relative leaves me their fortune! My work takes me to exotic places around the world and requires me to bring my husband and friends along! Each of my offspring has found fulfillment in their careers and have found loving partners who bring them joy. My worries are abated. The world finds peace.
Well, a girl can dream, can she not?
In reality, one turn of the page on my calendar simply means a new day. It’s a new opportunity to focus (my word for this year) on what is important and to prioritize what is required of me to make room for what is desired. And as much as I love them, real change comes from action, not words. It should not be a surprise that the things in my life that need to change, need to start with me.
It has been nine years since I left a career in broadcasting to work in print media. At the time, it felt like a bold and uncertain move. My children were mostly grown, and I was free to look out for my own interests on a level I had not considered for what amounted to half of my life.
As American naturalist and nature essayist, John Burroughs said, “Leap and the net will appear.” Leaving a job I loved for new opportunities, was indeed a leap of faith. Happily, I did not land flat on my face. I cannot say it worked out the way I had envisioned, but it really did work out!
My life today is incredibly different than it was in 2015. The move led to other changes – some of which I resisted and others I eagerly accepted. Either way, change was bound to happen. The adage is death and taxes are the only things we can count on, but I think that should be death and change. Resistance really is futile, so in the words of those friends of Bill, I accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can and really hope for the wisdom to know the difference!
Each new year also brings with it the realities of my aging mind and body. Talk about change! It is getting harder and harder to ignore. I have committed to being kinder to this vessel and have hit the ground (not running) but with some small steps in the direction of taking better care of myself. So far, I am stretching! That may not sound like much, but when was the last time you tried touching your toes without bending your knees?
With aging comes a natural loss of flexibility, bone density, strength, and endurance. Those factors can also affect coordination, stability, and balance. Having that happen to me – a person who is notoriously uncoordinated, somewhat unstable, and completely out of balance – has been an eye opener! So, I am starting with a very small step. My fingertips can now touch the floor and I am working towards the entire palm of my hand. next. While I never expect to be Mary Lou Retton (a reference for those of a certain age) or Simone Biles (a more current cultural reference), my goal is to be able to loosen and move these joints and muscles so that, should one occur, an injury is less likely to be severe.
I am making other adjustments as well, like foregoing those cute heels for a sturdier shoe. On the positive side, those folks in the footwear industry must be getting older as well because there are some really appealing, sensible options available now for those who have turned in their stilettos for a block heel. These days, fashion need not be abandoned in the name of function! Can I get an Amen?
When it comes to the miracle of a change in financial status, I will certainly take the unexpected inheritance but it is more likely that it will be making good choices with the funds I earn that will give me the sense of security I crave, and travel will be budgeted, in order to enjoy those exotic far away places on my bucket list. And it will be a lot easier to win the lottery if I play it, so I will try to remember to do that every now and then.
I realize the happiness and fulfillment of my adult children is out of my hands, so while their well-being will always be on my New Years Wishlist, it is one area where I am learning to be an observer. They have the tools, or they know where to get them. They know right from wrong. While the parenting job is never over, the foundation they were given is built. It is interesting to see where it takes them.
Finally, my wish for world peace remains. It is not looking good, but I am hopeful that wiser minds will come together to facilitate real solutions.
May this year be full of wishes fulfilled by taking action that result in actual change.
Sure, you can say I’m a dreamer, but (in the words of the late, great, John Lennon), I am not the only one!
Hollie Grimaldi Flores is a Nevada County resident and freelance writer for hire. She can be reached at holliesallwrite@gmail.com
xo, Hollie
