I wasn’t sure I was going to be ready to hit the ground running, ready to embrace the official working start of 2016. I expected to be a bit reluctant to let go of the holiday energies, particularly since I’ve managed to be unplugged and quite enjoying it. I woke up one morning to a “no bootable devices” message on my computer, and after the initial panic and then the existential wondering of where exactly did ALL my stuff disappear to – I took a deep breath and accepted this was going to be an interesting start to the year. With the first Mercury retrograde arriving tomorrow, I’m open to allowing that there’s still a bit more clarity I need to have, and a bit more listening I need to do before rushing off in 2016.
But I do SO love the energy of a new calendar year. I find it delightful when other folks are getting jazzed about what they want to create and how they want to set forth with intention as they step into a fresh cycle of days. And while it’s true we always have the opportunity to begin anew, and there are many cycles to work with, there is something very powerful about this particular cycle because it’s held collectively by so many.
I have so much I want to do and share this year, and I’m excited to see how it all unfolds. One of the things I’ve been clear about for a while now is that I’m really wanting to focus on refining things. I have lots of practices that delight and serve me, but I’m wanting to tweak and shake things up, switch things up and see if I can create even more delight and magic. And I’m also aware that I need to to refine my focus a bit as well. In a way those things sound a bit at odds with each other – experimenting tends to be expansive and focusing tends to be more contracting, and yet that’s what is calling me this year. I can tell there’s going to be lots for me to learn, and I imagine there will be stories to tell as I navigate this.
But one of the things I remain committed to is sharing the wonderfulness I witness in the world and sharing how others are exploring the magic of their lives. And in that vein there are a few things I’m paying attention to and invite you to check out as well.
I’m pinch-myself grateful to have Terry Lee Getz as a friend – she’s one of the most amusing, wildly creative, simpatico thinkers spinning in my universe. She’s starting out this year with some initiatives, one of them being Make Do. I love the clarity of that – a big mission that can be explored and expressed in such a myriad of ways, and a whole year committed to the adventure. I’m really looking forward to hearing how this goes for her, and it has me wondering what sort of initiative I might initiate. You can find her blogging about this here.
For a different perspective on how to embrace the possibilities of a new year to dance with, Rachel over at Gentle Wanderings is committing to one small change each month. I love that idea and doesn’t it feel expansive thinking about what twelve changes in your life might look like by the end of the year? You can read her post here.
And finally, Havi Brooks of Fluent Self is certainly someone I’ve mentioned before. She is a master pattern observer and works at unraveling stuckness. She blogs twice a week, once with wishes of what she’s inviting into her life and once with a check in on how things are going.
She uses an expression frequently and it’s an incredibly powerful invocation that I really love:
“May all misunderstandings and distortions, internal and external, dissolve in love if not in laughter. May peacefulness prevail.”
Isn’t that the perfect intention for all of us to carry forward into our New Year? I certainly think so.
As a bit of an aside, it’s come to my attention that today is Trivia Day. My contribution to that is to offer this fact: I’m working off a mobile device and will be until my new computer arrives in a little over a week. Mobile devices may make our lives easier in many ways, but they aren’t actually on my favorite-things-of-all-time list. It’s a bit of a challenge for me to manage a biz, blog, and do a lot of things with ease on a mobile, and I find it particularly annoying to have to be alert for ridiculous autocorrect spelling atrocities that my device is prone to. So just a bit of a hedz up that I’ll likely be a bit slow for the next week or so. And if I miss some crazy spelling “fixes” just smile along with me. I’ll also add that I expect to have a lot to say about Rabbit this year. How’s that for trivia?
Now your turn. What bit of trivia do you have to share? How are you feeling about stepping into a new year? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
Oh, I feel for you, Deborah. Just thinking about trying to compose a blog with as much copy as you provided above on that tiny screen makes my head hurt.
I’m extremely excited about what the new year will bring. Lots of plans and a good little bit left to chance.
On Trivia – I learned today that a 1/2 inch snow forecast has those in Roanoke ready to cancel school and running to the supermarket for supplies. Wouldn’t have know that if my fridge didn’t arrive today (Mercury retrograde came early here – third appliance to fail in about as many weeks). Couldn’t resist starting to fill it with what was lost and more immediately ;-). It’s going to be wonderful adventure learning a new culture in the same country, but a very different state.
Sounds like there will be lots of fun new adventures for you Nanette and lots of learning experiences as well. And I hope that’s the last of the appliances you have to replace this year.
Congratulations re this blog from your cell phone Deborah! This is a lovely post thank you. I love the idea of your friend’s one small change a month, and the other links you provide will be interesting I know.
Thanks for the alert re: mercury going retrograde .. forewarned is fore-armed ..
2016 will be an interesting year – I’m not copping out saying ‘interesting’ – I’m still to get myself used to this new year.
I’m excited to see what unfolds for all of us this year Susan. Plenty of joy and lots of delight I hope.
Brightest Blessings this New Year Deborah. Just popping by to say thank you for featuring my little blog 🙂 I am in awe that you blog from your phone, i always end up so frustrated when I try to do that! x
How delightful to have you stop by and say hello Rachel! Wishing you a most wondrous 2016, and I’m looking forward to hearing about your year,
I have always enjoyed the start of a New Year as well, it seems that anything is possible again. I admire your resourcefulness in blogging on your phone, oh my! I have a hard enough time to be consistent on the computer, ha! Bet your looking forward to that new computer.
I love that feeling of openness and all possibilities as well Sue. Here’s to creating much magic this year. And you’re right, I’m quite looking forward to my new computer arriving.
Hi Deborah – yes blogging on anything other than a pc would give me the heebie-jeebies … if that’s how you spell it! So enjoy the peaceful wait for your new machine to arrive. I’m just looking forward to moving forward and achieving so much this year .. plans in process of being progressed. Take care and have a good year .. cheers Hilary
Thanks for the kind wishes Hilary, and right back at you. Here’s to a most fabulous 2016 for all of us!
Hey Deborah!!!
I feel like i have been underwater for a REALLy long time and i am finally breaking the surface and feeling alive again. I am plugging back in, connecting again, It feels wonderful. I am excited what what the new year will bring to you and through you and I love the sharing that you did here.
We moved just before Christmas and I am still getting my feet under me in regards to my art and my creative practice but all in all, it feels wonderful to be at this new chapter.
I’ll be seeing you around!
Much love,
Cynthia
I’m so excited for you Cynthia – I can feel the wonderful energy of this new beginning for you. And I so look forward to hearing what you’re up to. Happy 2016.
Hidee ho!
well, shucks girlfriend, you didn’t have to go and make me blush…thanks for the shout out! if I am not mistaken, and i often am, have you not snuggled with Bunny before?
A little color is such a good thing in winter don’t you think? :-). While I’ve been dreaming about rabbit, I think I’m in for a most interesting dance this year. Or should I say hop?
Oh my heart goes out to you, Deborah. I once did a weensy blog post on my phone as I was travelling on the train. It just about caused me to slug back the vodka before lunch. I hope your new computer arrives in a timely fashion.
I love the sound of your plans for 2016 and am looking forward to seeing them unfold.
As for me, I am awaiting the arrival of a new bed. My old one was very well loved but what with the suitcase supporting it from underneath, it was time to say goodbye.
On the blogging front, I hope to keep posting at least once a week and I’m going to focus on submitting to a few places and get into the book I’m writing about working with my mum.
Onward!
LOL – you can bet I understand the vodka appeal Kel! I can’t wait until your book is available – may all the magic that needs to happen to get it into our hands unfold with perfect ease and grace. And here’s to sleeping on a comfy new bed. Sounds like 2016 is shaping up to be a delight.
Trivia: Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a very short story titled “How Watson Learned the Trick” to be printed as a tiny book for a special dollhouse.
A most delightful piece of trivia – how fun!
Oh Deborah….I always learn so much from each of your posts. Thank you for the links to the other posts. I am looking forward to implementing some of those ideas through my year.
Hope all is well in the electronic world for you now!
Thanks for the electronic good wishes Elda. Yes, I’m now back up and running on a new computer with my files recovered. YAY!
I look forward to hearing about how you navigate 2016.