Re-solutions and Here's to a Boring '23, and a Post-Script

I will not be making resolutions for the new year. Instead, I want to really take a deeper look at the word: resolve. Re-solve. Solve again? 

That means there are solutions, and they will be called upon over and over. That sounds about right to me, this idea that each day, week, month-- year!--requires that we bring our already-figured-out solutions to each challenge. To acknowledge that we already have skills to use, and solutions that we can depend on, even if we have to tweak them a little, is empowering. 

No lie, 2022 pushed me to my limits in a lot of ways, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Thank goodness for the good friends and family members who helped pick me up when I was flattened by stuff that I could not yet solve. But you know what? When we can take a breath and focus on what we have in our toolkit, add to that with advice and help from others, we build new solutions, new schema. Life will likely require that we use these new tools as we move into the next days, weeks, months, and years. But we have them, and if we keep track of what we know we can do, even if it was incredibly hard, and even if we don't really want to have to do the hard things again, we can depend on those things. 

That's a real re-solution, right? 

Now, on a less-philosophical level, I always vow that I'll eat more cleanly, I will get more rest, read more, write more, and try to take a deep breath before I respond to questions that elicit a less-than-polite response from me. All good goals, and, like just about everyone else, I fall short. But I will try. All the platitudes aside, I hope and pray that 2023 is boring. I mean, truly without challenges that try us to our limits. I know that it's unlikely, but I also think that we play a part in keeping things on a more even keel. It sounds odd, but I really want to strive for boring. Not dull, but certainly a little less upheaval would be welcome. 

So, I'll start with clearing out the tree needles today, and putting away the glitter and shine of the holidays. If I cut out squares of cardboard, I can methodically wind the strings of lights onto them: make that my first effort at less stress, about 11 months from now. No one enjoys untangling lights, any more than they like untangling stressful issues. 

Take good care, and let's brush 2022 out the door. 

C

Post-script: Both Barbara Walters and Pope Benedict passed away yesterday. Imagine that interview at the Pearly Gates...