Maybe this just happens when you’re getting older and nobody told me about it, but over the years I’ve come to notice that the way I see the year and the way others see the year seems to be a bit different.
I’m sure I’ve written about how for me, the year feels like it starts in the fall with the return to a previously abandoned (for the summer) routine. It’s as though the work starts with the harvest, rather than the seeding. I tend to snap back into shape with things as the kids start their school year. My workout changes from an outdoor-centric regimen to an indoor one, even though it might seem a little premature (I think my autumn seasonal allergies have a say in that), I often rework my diet and revise my fitness meal plan, start writing substantially more songs and poetry, I get up earlier… and by the time new years’ rolls around and everyone’s talking about how the coming 12 months will be better or different, I’ve already laid the groundwork for it.
What’s more interesting, aside from generally tracking my behavior is specialized tracking of my behavior. I’ve come to learn that specific dates seem to hold significance (and no, I’m not into astrology, but feel free to hit me with your knowledge). For example, August 30th is the anniversary of the day my beloved puppy came home 4 years ago. 14 years ago to the day is the when my (also-beloved) 1962 Ford Fairlane 500 came home. Another example is October 22nd, which is not only the day my mother was born, and not only the day we moved into our house, but also the date of the last alcoholic beverage I drank. Obviously none of this was intentional, but is interesting to me.
I can recount the amazing things of the past 12 months, as well as the challenges, but really I’m looking forward. A new Confusionaires record is on the horizon, as is a budding relationship with a booking agent who is as excited about us as we are about him, and a couple other side-hustle things have been booked that will certainly help things along.
It’s not lost on me that the coming year will be challenging.
It’s not lost on me that the holiday season will chew me up and spit me out like it always does, and that people in my life and no longer in my life will have a more challenging and potentially devastating year than me, just as some will have a more successful year than me.
I just hope I’m able to help when needed… and I hope it’s actually helpful when I do it.
The Conscious Pilgrim 