Time to think about how we move forward and what we expect out of 2010. I'm sure hoping it holds more positive energy than 2009, which was a tough year for me.
It has been said that "We are the Masters of our own destiny" and while I believe this to a degree, there are some things we can't control. As we age, so do those around us and you start to feel your own mortality- I never realized I was at that point of life already until 2009, when I lost both my Mother and a number of peers- people I've known personally and worked with collaboratively and professionally for decades.
So I start this year with a fresh perspective on some subjects.
Friends? (No, not he Facebook kind!) YES- and because they are, I plan to engage with them as frequently as possible. Not just the occasional email- but phone calls and face time, actually 'pressing the flesh' with them. These are people in your life for a reason- at one time or another, you shared REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES with these people - you spent time together, maybe hoisted a glass or many, broke bread, shared conversation about each others kids or family members, attended sporting events, fished, hiked, camped... but you SPENT TIME TOGETHER because you both wanted to.
I think we've all grown accustomed to a simple email or sending a joke here and there, but over the past 5 or so years, no one picks up the phone anymore and for people that you 'raised kids with' as your kids have grown up and gone on to college, you don't have that bond that pulled you together periodically where you actually shook hands, or hugged, or shared an open laugh. THAT needs to change! Every month, I plan to reach out to one or two friends and hopefully the old connection is still there and they'll reciprocate in the following month or two and we'll re-establish that REAL connection.
Family? Well, I guess that's a different subject, isn't it? I have a very small 'nuclear family' my wife, 2 daughters and myself. All four of my grandparents and both of my parents are gone. I have one brother and he has one son... that's the extent of the actual blood family. One of my Dad's sisters are still alive, but she's the last of his 7 siblings. None of my Mom's siblings are alive any longer.
I maintain a close speaking relationship with my nuclear family, even though my eldest daughter is about 500 miles away... we remain in regular contact. Youngest is still at home, but that will change in the next couple of years, I fear. I love my daughters very much, and I guess like most parents you want them to grow and have lives of their own, but you want to keep them close forever. So my wife and I are entering a different phase of our relationship- no longer focusing on the kids, and its time for us to find each other again and remember the things that brought us together almost 40 years ago =) ... and to reconnect on that level.
We see my nephew and his wife regularly- but I don't see or speak to my brother much at all. And that is troubling, but... its' how do they say? ...complicated... We actually see my wife's family a lot more frequently- she's fortunate to still have her Mom, and she has 3 sisters and one brother- and they're ALL within an hour drive or less of us. We get together for dinner at least once a month, and I'm ok with that.
Work? Well, unfortunately I can't divorce myself form that- still need the income and benefits, haven't paid off the house yet, and it needs work. I like what I do, I don't mind where I do it, but the organization I work within needs work... LOTS of work. =( The one thing I draw solace from is I know I'm not alone in this.
Health? Yeah, I really need to work on that. I promise myself to not forget this, and I will start thinking about how to deal with some of the issues I have the ability to change. No action plan yet, but at least THINKING about it.
"Me Time"? I REALLY need to work on this- camping, fishing, fly tying especially... I've started reading more again, and if I can get going on the health dealio, I will start walking more again. I'm focusing more on cooking and learning to cook smaller batches of food for fewer people and/or spreading the wealth and sharing more when I cook 'country style'- I mean, when you do pulled pork or a brisket, they only come in one size- and who makes a small batch of carnitas, chili, or chile verde pork?
And organizing my 'stuff'- information AND physical stuff, I really need to work on that too
That's an ambitious year I think... wow, I guess I've got my work cut out for me. Okay 2010, let's DO THIS!!
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