2023.  It was a wobbly start. 

After what turned out to be, on the whole, an incredible 2022...there being more me in my experience of life...more laughter and living and joy and magic.  2022 was freaking amazing, and I could not have anticipated a less than epic beginning to 2023.

I can remember giving thought to my reason for being, my purpose, my why.  Not for a long time in any event.  In fact … the last time was over a decade a go, in the middle of the court case.  When I was searching then …. I read books like The Purpose Driven Life, etc.  Did I in some way, make an implicit agreement then to 'struggle it out' and that it was okay to …'surrender' some more to what was and ride it out – go with the flow?

But we are not doing that today. 

Last year began...

And sometimes I forget. In the busyness of life, in the ensuring that all the things that need to be done are done, sometimes I forget. Not so much the why behind the doing, but that it's usually the little things, the simplest of moments, that can and do take your breath away.

And some of those moments evolve with little, if any, fanfare. And it’s those simple moments that make up the greater part of the tapestry of our lives.

It’s 8:40pm now.

My experience of life wasn’t all sunshine and roses with a brilliant outlook filled with gratitude and love and moments of joy.

And it’s still a work in progress.

It took me a long minute - several years - to grasp, much less make a daily practice, the concept of intentionally choosing joy. 

You will be OK.

And you can be, do, have anything. 

First, always remember who you are.  Life will try to tell you differently.  Remember the big picture. Remember it is a game. Remember the power you have, and know your power lies in your choices, in your decisions.  Exercise your power often.

Life is going to happen.  

Sometimes it will be the things you didn’t see coming.  
Sometimes, it will be things seemingly unrelated to your life.
Things happen.  It is the nature of life.  The game of life.

I was thinking about life and the fleetingness of it.

I was walking with a friend the other day, ..it was a long walk and the long staircase to an overhead bridge was off in the distance. My inclination was...”elevator here I come.” And I am sure the expression on my face was longingly looking at the elevator, salvation in sight. Without any fanfare she quietly said, we are taking the stairs.... I groaned inwardly. As we approached the staircase, her advice was “Just look at the step in front of you. Don’t look up. One step at a time. Then the next one, and keep doing that ....and you will get to the top.” Sage advice.