Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Should Auld Aquaintance Be Forgot...


Ah, the end of the year.



I close 2014 with a somewhat melancholy air: Barry is spending this afternoon at the funeral of a dear friend's wife, who has died way too young at 63.  Yesterday, we were at the funeral home and the long lines waiting to see the family were a testament to what a wonderful lady Fran was.

If January 1st is a fresh page waiting for us to write our stories upon, December 31st is the look back, the day to take stock.

The lovely blog Into Mind recently shared a list of 50 questions to help you "reflect, appreciate and get excited for 2015".

I plan to do those questions this afternoon, since this is the perfect time, before the champagne cork is popped and the fun and games begin.


This is what is awaiting me tonight, likely to be noshed with chocolate and potato chips
whilst I watch Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin, whom I adore..


On the other end, my lovely friend Jennifer shared her word for 2015, brave, in her blog today.

Isn't that a wonderful word?  It implies all kinds of good things and good intentions.  I chose BREAKTHROUGH, but to be honest, it was less about work and more about the internal work I have been doing on gratitude, kindness, joy and most all, patience and my desire to find specific and meaningful ways to give back.

I am excited to see how BRAVE manifests itself in Jennifer!

I know many do not like resolutions.  I personally do not care for ones that require "fixing" oneself.

New Year's Resolutions

 

Surely we are all tired of beating ourselves up because we are not a size 4 or live in a big house or have cash up the wazoo?

Gandhi said (allegedly!) that we should be the change we want to see in the world.

I feel I have taken steps in that direction.  I am blissfully carefree of others' good opinions now since I  dropped out of everything.

I have learned that you can only succeed by doing.  And doing.  And falling on your ass.  And doing...

That if you are lucky in this world you have a small group of friends who love you unconditionally and whom you love in return.  If you don't have that, than I suggest that step #1 in 2015 is take a risk and reach out to someone you like but don't know really well.  Friends cost nothing, not even a cup of coffee and many of my friends I can only talk to via email!

Only by being vulnerable have I succeeded in anything in my life, most of all in the loves of my life, people-wise, work-wise, otherwise.

I also believe that everyone has dreams, of varying size and magnitude, and that to not try for that dream is akin to stuffing yourself back down.  And while one of my dreams is to be a published writer, an equally strong dream is to give back, through whatever means I can.

We think so much of grand gestures, grand everythings, but as excited as I was to land a literary agent this year (and she was likely as thrilled in reverse!) I was equally excited to sit at my desk every day and write about the worlds in my heads, writing many words and scenes that will never be seen by anyone but me.

I was excited to have tea with my Mum's best friend for her 90th birthday.

I was thrilled to see my brother and his family and the majestic mountains, but as excited as I was by the mountain goats, I was equally excited by their Boston Terrier, Wilma.

Everyday when I meditate (for a very short period of time and with lots of random thoughts mixed in for great delight) I think "how can I be the best me and how can I help others?"  The latter is purely selfish, as I have discovered that by helping others, whether through volunteering, caring, or just giving them a hug, appears to benefit me more than them.

This year I gained 15 pounds.  Next year I will likely take it off.  (hello menopause, I see you in the corner).  I am not beating myself up.  In fact, I am telling myself daily how great I am.  I have decided to be my own best friend, and frankly, best friends don't tell you you look like crap (unless they're worried you're sick!)

This year I made new friends, and sadly lost some friends.

This year I was excited every day.

And if I can send you one wish on this last day of 2014 it is this: that you are in good health and that you are excited every day.  We deserve nothing less from our time here.


bringing-excitement-back1


 

That's how I'll honour friends lost.  By showing up and by being excited.

Love to you all!!!!

xoxo wendy





44 comments:

  1. Wishing you a happy, healthy New Year, Wendy!

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    1. Have fun tonight Rose! We will get things started here in the east for you!!!!

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  2. Sorry about your friend; we, too, lost a dear man, 62. His wife spent a wonderful weekend with us this month, able to speak about him here, in a safe place. We'll toast him again tonight, as he would have wished.

    Stay excited! And don;t worry about the weight, just lose it-- you will. Menopause wrecks the metabolism, but a hundred years ago, this was our life expectancy. So be glad to be menopausal!! As I know you are.

    Happy New Year!

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    1. Lane - you know what - that is an excellent point! Although many of my scots ancestors seemed to live quite a long time in the 1800s! It was the smokers in the 1900s that buggered it all up! Much love! GetFresh and I were discussing you night before last and I told her you are on my resolution list for 2015!

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  3. It's important to stay excited about life even in the face of adversity, Wendy you're right as usual! Have an excellent evening, wish I was there to share the pink champers with you xo

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    1. I wish you were too, dollface, because my headache would be much less tomorrow!

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  4. I wish you and yours a fortuitous and healthy new year! X

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    1. Right back at you! Hoping to hit Europe in 2015, so will keep you posted!

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  5. Happy New Year Wendy, I am so grateful for everything I have, for our friendship and your wonderful blogs. Ben read me an obituary this morning, a 46 year old man he knew very well, it certainly has been a year of gains and losses....in a few hours we get to start over again and start up a new gratitude jar. Xox Ger

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    1. Right back at you Ger! And miracle of miracles, Ben and I both found the 00 flour and were going to text each other! Too funny! Safe times tonight!

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  6. What a wonderful and hopeful post! I hope you have the happiest of years ahead of you. xo

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  7. Bravo Wendy that was pitch perfect!!!

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    1. Thanks GSL! Who knows maybe you will see us next year... we always talk about Chicago!

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  8. Happy New Year to you and your family, Wendy!!! (Must ask my husband to run to the liquor store to find some of that pink champagne!!)

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    1. You-know-who brought it from TO for me and it is chilling merrily in the fridge. I think it is giving the leftovers attitude, but who can blame it? It is so pink and perfect and posh...

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  9. Here is to a great 2015--and upcoming Cap birthdays!

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  10. Happy New Year, Wendy & Barry & Family!
    I picked STRONG as my word for 2015.
    We'll see.

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    1. As in more muscle? I need more muscle, says my scale that reads out body fat. Or strong in general? I think you already are...

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  11. My word for 2015 is HOPE, something we all need in this imperfect world. This year I took a risk and went back to school (evening). Completely unrelated to my job but exhilarating since it's just for me. Best wishes for a healthy, happy 2015 and many thanks for a year of wonderful posts!

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    1. I think hope is such a wonderful word! It gets us out of bed in the morning, doesn't it? I love learning, so I imagine you are having a blast! Happy new year, Marie!

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  12. Happy New Year to you and your family. You know something? You give back through this blog. You make me laugh, think, and at times, well up. The connection you make to all of us that read you is nothing short of good. Raise your glasses. My word for for 2015? Thankful. Cheers!

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    1. Thanks Levbacon! Thankful is such a wonderful word and I am that after reading your comment!

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  13. Thank you for posting such gentle and reflective meanderings, just enough to get us of thinking and feeling and thankful. My word is BELIEVE as in believing that a new year can truly bring both personal and political change and progress.

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  14. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend Fran!! Terribly sad and yet you wrote a beautifully uplifting post. You have such a magical way with words!! Breakthrough is a powerful word. Your heart is so large and loving, I'm proud to call you my friend:). We've got the same pink and bubbly on ice. When we open it I will lift one to toast you dear Wendy. Wishing you the Happiest of New Years! Thanks for the shout out today. xoxo

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    1. Jennifer, I hoped you liked your bottle as much as I liked mine? Here's to a wonderful and peaceful 2015!

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  15. I really appreciate that you keep nudging yourself to be better and to do better since you nudge me to do the same. You have reminded me again today to be grateful for my life and my health.i wish you much happiness, health and success in the new year. As I toast at midnight I will think of you and your wonderful message today.

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    1. Teacups, I am such a work in progress I imagine myself at 93 shouting "not yet god, I still get mad!" Happy new year to you and have a wonderful 2015!

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  16. Lovely post Wendy - I am always quite reflective on the change of the year, and don't like a "resolution" either. I'm hopeful 2015 will be a year less fraught, less busy and just more time for being present in it.
    So very sorry to hear about your friend, what a truly sad end note for you all to experience on the final day of the year. Hopefully 2015 will bring you much success in your literary endeavours xx

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    1. Heidi, I like the idea of being more present - mindfulness can certainly make the respites from the frenzy that much sweeter, can't it?

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  17. I'm in awe that you meditate every day, such a difficult thing to do.

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    1. I can say unequivocally that it has changed my life!

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  18. All the best in the new year, Wendy! :)

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  19. Hadn't thought about a word for the new year but this post (as charming and thoughtful as ever) reminded me of a word that I read in Annie Lamott's latest book Small Victories. The word is "WELCOME." Since I keep thinking about it I will accept it as my word for 2015. Happy New Year.

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    1. I just bought her new book, though I haven't started it yet! Welcome! Very intriguing!

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  20. I love BRAVE and BREAKTHROUGH, and I would like add OPTIMISTIC. Happy New Year, Wendy!

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  21. I love this Wendy! I need to come with a word or a phrase for my year. That's such a great idea. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful year!

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  22. REMEMBERED WELL Wendy, this post is giving back! In a word: bright.

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  23. Wendy you're such a breath of fresh air, I love your practicality, creativity and positive verve.
    For me it's always about sticking at something and seeing it through. Easy for me to Incipe (begin,which used to be our school motto)but harder to sit down again tomorrow and get your gumboots on and wade into the mire and keep wading until the end of the day. Oh well, date scones and nice cuppa waiting when you get through, though
    I gave up drinking for two months. It's over-rated, but I did get a lot of work done. best thing ever is drinking more water...(think actually weight loss and other things follow from that one simple thing) still I find it hard though. easier to drink something sweetened and bubbly

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Kindness is a virtue...