I know that everyone is either partying hard, out and about and thus not reading blog posts, or already in bed. I’m not one to judge, so whatever floats your boat…
Or you’ve been busy and only now are finding your way to reading this.
So I’m going to keep it short and sweet.
When you do happen to stumble upon this post, I hope that you’re having a wonderful entry to the year 2013.
It happens once. We’ll never see it (2013) again. So while it’s here, why not make the best of it?
I’ve always been a reflective person who makes resolutions, and while I won’t share specifics, I do think it’s important to share broader themes.
Initially I was going to go with Change, but quite frankly each and every year is filled with change.
Whether you’re new parents or newly empty-nested, switching careers or switching continents, starting anew or starting a new fill-in-the-blank, you’re probably up to your eyeballs in change.
Yeah, me too.
Change is present in virtually everyone’s life, no matter how it appears to others on the outside.
Believe me, I learned that firsthand this year. Big, in-your-face Time.
2012 was a year in which so many wonderful, exciting, fantastic things happened. And a year in which a number of some downright awful things occurred. Sometimes almost at the same time, often sequentially, even simultaneously.
I’ve had so much thrown at me this year that at times I almost didn’t think I could handle it. I’ve been knocked back, knocked down and knocked every which way.
But I did. I got up. I employed every single trick and tip and suggestion to maintain/enhance/ conjure up any remnant of emotional resilience I could possibly summon.
And I kept going.
It worked. And thankfully it’s still working.
I’m praying that the toughest parts are past, but honestly I know that there still will be tough times ahead.
But that’s okay. Whatever I’m dealing with, there are others dealing with far worse.
Believe me, in my darkest hours it took every ounce of strength to try and remember that. And when you do keep that in mind, you realize that you have no control over what comes your way. It just does, and you do your best to deal with it.
When you remember that others are feeling/hurting/suffering with worse, you become aware that you could encounter more than what you’re dealing with, you may well be thrown on your back but that sooner or later, you still might just find your way through to the other side.
So back to Change, reflections and my New Year’s Resolutions.
I realized that my personal and professional resolutions fall into the following three broad themes which will lead the way into 2013:
1. Centering – in body, mind, soul. More on this in posts to come.
2. Creating – I’ve got a few things I want to complete, some new cool ones to start, and new directions I wish to pursue. I’m a wonderfully squishy, scary combination of excited, thrilled, nervous and apprehensive. Can’t think of a better mix.
3. Community – whether it’s your nuclear family, broader relations, neighborhood, village/town/city, old friends, new friends, colleagues or the wider world, community matters. So I’m going to be concentrating on it throughout 2013.
So rather than slap up a photo of fireworks, pretty bodies in slinky outfits, champagne flutes or raucous partying, I prefer to show you a walking trail that I’ve been making great use of lately. I feel safe there.
It’s where I’ve done some of my deepest thinking, my most heartfelt contemplation, and my most plaintive pleas. After the passage of time, it has became the scene of initially tentative and then rapidly accelerating planning and scheming and dreaming big.
I’m grateful for these woods, I’m grateful for what I’ve been through (yes, every little bit of it), I’m grateful for what I’ve learned and I’m grateful for you here reading this.
Happy New Year’s and May You Have a Rocking 2013!!!
All the best for 2013, my squishy friend. I hope it holds nothing but good things for you.
Why thank you dear, same to you. I know that’s probably not likely, but learning to deal with the good and the not so good is part of life. It’s easier with squishy friends like you to offer insight and a laugh 😉
Happy New Year Linda!
I love that you have three areas of focus for this year. I think sometimes having focus rather than specific goals is better, because life continues to happen and you can be forced in a whole new direction at any time. But as long as you still have focus, the goals that sit within the focus can change, and it feels more acceptable when they do change. I have for the past few years focused on a word for the year, one to keep in mind no matter what is going on. In 2012 it was Play/Playful, which was challenging to do/be amidst everything that was happening in my life. For 2013 I have chosen Courage (blog post will follow soon!) – courage to be me, to follow my heart and manifest my dreams.
See you soon 🙂 ps I love the woods too, can’t live without them.
I like ‘Courage,’ Carrie. It lends itself to lots of interpretations, and begets strength and action. Looking forward to seeing you soon, too. We’ll definitely wander the Wassenaar woods together 🙂
I’m a reflective person too, and I really like the idea of your 3 general themes (Cs) for the year – sort of like a value statement to remind you of what you want to focus on. I do love reading about others’ resolutions and plans – right now I’m very taken with the ‘101 things in 1001 days’ website/project – it’s a little overwhelming, but I do love the idea of crossing specific achievements and goals off my lists!
I’m sorry to hear about the struggles this year has presented but glad you had your strategies for coping with the challenges you faced. It sounds like they got you through a dark time.
We didn’t do any crazy partying at all on New Year’s Eve this year. Instead, we participated in a Korean tradition here in Seoul of watching the sun rise on this first day of the New Year. It was a wonderful and life-affirming way to start off the year, and a much more meaningful way for me to begin 2013 than by sleeping in and waking up late with a headache.
Hope this year is a little easier to navigate and best of luck with your ‘C’s!
Thanks Caroline, I appreciate your kind words. I like the idea of watching the sun rise on New Year’s Day, very life-affirming as you say. Like you, I thrill to making lists and checking things off so I’ll definitely take a look at that website. Surely we can manage to cross off a few on a list of 101, lol!
Abstinence (or perhaps, moderation) is our watchword for 2013!
Love that you’re modifying your resolution, Jack! You know, just in case.
“Change is present in virtually everyone’s life, no matter how it appears to others on the outside.” Oh boy, ain’t that the truth! 2012 certainly demonstrated that to me also, not only in my own life but those of people around me. I think one of the biggest fears for repatriates is that life will be boring from now on, but speaking from experience that isn’t the case! A valuable experience from expat life has been learning to adapt to curve balls – what the global mobility industry now refers to as “resilience.” Life is full of challenges, whether you’re an expat or not, and one thing I do now know is that at some point in the future I will look back and recognize that good things will grow out of tough times. May that happen to you too, Linda.
That is so true, Judy: good things do grow out of tough times. I’ve seen that already and it keeps us going, doesn’t it? ‘Embrace Change’ has always been my motto, and some years we do a whole lot more embracing than others!
Happy New Year to you, Linda! Very nice words (C’s) to reflect upon. I think we writers spend countless hours reflecting; it’s a good thing to review and learn from the past.
Cheers to you, my friend!
Cheers to you, too, Carol. Each time I see your site it truly lives up to its name: it makes me smile to know we may now be an ocean apart but we’re both on a writing journey…
All the best in 2013. I hope it is a good one for all of us!!
Hear hear Kathleen! Wishing more good things for everyone. 2012 was a great year for you with your wonderful book Expat Alien!
Linda, have a 2013 that is best for you. Sometimes, there is little difference between changes and challenges. It’s our perception of how we can find a way through them. Great work and I also will certainly be counting my ‘C’s’ in 2013. Add to the list -compassion, challenges and choices. All the best for the oncoming year with your familyxxxNamaste Niamh
That’s a good way to think of it, Niamh, thank you. We each hope for the year that is best for us. Wishing you your best 2013, dear.
I love the walking path Carrie. It’s wonderful to find that “safe” place. Keep up the courage in 2013!
Glad you like it, Dena and thank you for your new year wishes. (It’s me, Linda.) Carrie is my good friend and blogger at http://www.carrie-health-hearing.blogspot.com and http://www.carriesanderson.wordpress.com.
Nice to find you! I am a new expat here in the Netherlands myself- trying to make sense of it- but so far so good. We have been here two months, and I am really enjoying it. Even in these cold winter months- coming from South Carolina is pretty hard. I wrote today about our goals, and how I am finding peace and happiness in downsizing the European way.
http://thethreeunder.com/2013/01/when-less-is-more-really-works-downsizing-our-life/
Happy new year!
Welcome Farrah, glad you’re here (both on site and in Nederland). Stopped by your blog and left some comments; enjoyed it and have added it to my expat blog roll tab. I agree completely with finding peace and happiness in downsizing and acquiring less; that’s such a positive attribute of life here. One thing I forgot to mention is that making the effort to learn Dutch – however much or little that is – makes a BIG difference in life here. While many Dutch (especially in the Randstad) speak English, they will embrace you so much more if you make the effort. They may switch to English on you but just keep going; they’ll appreciate it and support you if you do and you’ll be able to experience so much more. In a year or two, if your twins are interested, do have them join a Dutch voetbal (soccer) club. Daughter played 2 1/2 years with a Dutch club and we all experienced a much deeper side of Dutch life, and it made for wonderful times with welcoming people who appreciated her making the effort.
Linda, sounds like you have needed all your courage at the moment and will do for what lies a head. Thank you for sharing in your writing; not everyone can make time to be creative when things are tough. I wish you all the best for 2013.
Thank you Laura, what a reaffirming comment, it’s made my day! Now that I’m back from a visit to my elderly parents, I can focus a little bit more on my poor neglected blog. I wish you a fulfilling 2013 as well.
A belated Happy New Year Linda! May your safe path see you through happier times in 2013. x
And to you too, dear!