Sunday Snippet: The It’s Almost the New Year Edition

2025 is nearly upon us. A new year should never bring a feeling of dread and yet… here we are.

We are living in chaotic and scary times, and I keep thinking what can I do? My stomach roils at the thought of what’s happening in Washington (not much, thanks to a do-nothing off-the rails House) and how divided we are as a nation. I have to have faith in my fellow Americans–that we will come together against the crazy that’s happening in politics. We must be proactive, to mobilize against the far right’s obsession with an autocrat and oligarchs. So, there’s that… But what can I do?

I actually know the answer to this one… I can write my congresspeople. I can volunteer. I can let my voice be heard because I have a voice, and I won’t let it be silenced. I will resist. I can pray every day for our leaders, that they will find a way to agree that our country, the citizens, are more important than power plays or money and that real freedom means joining together to take care of one another.

I can hang on, spread love, pay attention to what’s happening in the world. I can write, work, spend time with Husband, Son, DIL, and Grandboy. I can do book promotion, but not be obsessed with it, I can take some writing trips with Liz, go on an anniversary trip with Husband, spend time at the lake and enjoy my friends there. I can walk with my friends every day, go to the pool and move my body. I can continue to live my life.

In 2025, I will once again turn to Sara Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance day book to remind me that gratitude is how we get through the hard times. I’m not going to set intentions or goals or resolutions or even find a word for the year. Neither am I going to reflect back on 2024. Y’all were there. No need to rehash what turned out to be a difficult year for all of us. I’m going to remember that life is good. Life is very good…I know that, I know it with all my heart. I’m counting on the daily Simple Abundance meditations to help me remember what a lovely life I have.

I am, however going to name the things for which I am thankful from 2024 because gratitude is key to everything else in life. If we aren’t grateful for what we have– the ups and the downs–how can we ever know true joy?

• Husband–my rock, my love, my partner, my support
• Son–the light of my life
• Grandboy–the other light of my life
• DIL–another light, whose unbounding love for Son and Grandboy make me so grateful for her in my life
• Sister and Brother–the only ones who know my whole history and love me unconditionally
• Other family members
• Friends–too many to risk missing one in a list, but you know who you are and how I cherish you
• Liz–my bestie writing buddy upon whom I depend
• Writing–“Everything in my life is filtered through my writing. There is no me without it.”
• Tule Publishing–best place for this author and editor, I’m so grateful for this organization in my life
• Medical science–my heart is still beating
• Lake life
• The ‘hood
• My gardens–how their beauty makes me smile
• Technology–without it, life would be harder

The list could go on, but you get my drift, right? Try making a 2024 gratitude list today and then begin 2025 in a spirit of true thankfulness for all the many blessing in your life. It will always center you, bring you back from any dark or worrisome places, to remember all that you have is most likely all that you need.

Gratitude for this week: Time with family, particularly lovely to see nieces and nephews I haven’t seen in a while; Christmas morning with Son, DIL, and Grandboy; my ear infection seems to be healing; Husband found my James Taylor at Christmas CD up at the lake cottage–yay! Christmas lights are so lovely; I resisted baking so much this year–no fudge, no cut-out cookies, rolls only for the neighbors. Lightning didn’t strike and neither did I gain the usual holiday 5. Hmmmm… 

Happy New Year to you all and my sincerest gratitude to all of you who join me regularly. I depend on your support more than you know.  Remember to stay well, stay safe (Vaccines are a miracle), always choose kindness, and most of all, stay grateful. Let’s gird our loins, mes amis, take a deep breath, and step into 2025 together, shall we?