So, we’re on the threshold of another year – 365 days of adventure and surprises ahead of us.
In year’s past I have made resolutions regarding health, weight, outlook and who knows what else, then beaten myself up when circumstance or lack of resolve derailed my intentions.
Over the past few years, I have tried to change track and am much happier.
Many old resolutions have become part of everyday attempts to do the right thing for my body, mind, others I meet along the way, family, friends and the planet too.
Rather than suffer my way through broken resolutions, I am trying to live in the here and now and let life unfold.
I took up tai chi in the fall and was told the answer to ‘where are we?’ is ‘here,’ and ‘what time is it?’ is now.
A pretty simple but profound outlook – and one that still seems elusive at times.
I’ve had a long life of panicking over the what ifs and have begun to regard life with a “this-too-shall-pass” philosophy handed down by my mother, long gone now, and the “keep your pecker up” advice her Scottish mother handed out in times of trouble.
A little aside here: While pecker is a word now associated with North American slang, the usage here is the English pecker, that is, nose or mouth. The phrase is equivalent to keep your chin up.
Both phrases have become family jokes, words spoken in times of strife or worry. While they may not solve anything, they usually do get a smile – no matter how grudging.
This too shall pass is applicable not only to times of worry, but to the good times too. Nothing lasts forever, although the really great times seem to fly by much faster than the worrisome ones.
And as I continue my climb in years, I am increasingly aware that there will be things I have wanted to do that will be beyond my ability and capability.
So, with that in mind, I have decided to have as many adventures as possible while my body and mind will let me.
I will continue to savour my family and the fact I live in a community where I know many by name and have close friendships. I am grateful for the job that allows me to meet so many interesting and incredible people (except maybe on deadline days) and to work with some of the best people on the planet.
I see more snowshoeing in my future and more kayaking in summer, more trails to explore – thanks to the trail alliance and, who knows, maybe that mountain roller coaster when it opens on Revelstoke Mountain next year.
Why not? I did a 10-line zip line high in the Alaska canopy this summer. The first one was a short practice, one that did nothing to assuage my fears. I was petrified! But overcoming my fears and arriving safely at the bottom gave a tremendous boost to my self-confidence – and the knowledge that there’s still time for more adventuring.
So, zipping into the new year, I wish everyone the best of what life has to offer and the knowledge that this too shall pass.
