“Look at all the life in this," she said. "Every pip could become a tree, and every tree could bear another hundred fruits and every fruit could bear another hundred trees. And so on to infinity." — David Almond, Skellig
In the final weeks of December, I always take time to reflect on the past year and to "plan" for the new by choosing one word to guide my thoughts and observations. In 2019, my word was "wonder." In 2020, I chose "focus." In 2021, my somewhat enigmatic word was is "pomegranate." Read why here.
My pomegranate-inspired wish was that 2021 be a year …
of good health -- of healing of bodies, minds, and hearts.
I am so grateful to have remained healthy throughout the pandemic. In March, I was fully vaccinated. I felt a new sense of hope that I’d be able to spend more time with family and friends and perhaps even travel again. I received my booster on October 1st, yet somehow as 2021 draws to a close, I feel less hopeful than I did a year ago.
Also in March, I started rowing. I rowed nearly every day and included yoga on the days when I didn’t row. By Thanksgiving, I had rowed 1,000,000 meters and look forward to doubling that 2022.
of potential -- I vowed to contribute, to create, to make (or to quote my alma mater "to be") the difference.
I promised to document “the messy journey” and while I did continue to post photos and musings here on my blog, I felt somewhat less inspired this year. Perhaps it was due to not traveling or perhaps it was because I didn’t participate in a photo challenge for the first time in ten years. I think I need to revisit this idea.
While I continue to work in a profession that has always empowered me to contribute my time, abilities, ideas, and compassion, for the first time in 28 years, I have begun to question whether I really am still “being the difference.” How is it possible that the 2021-2022 school year could be more challenging than the previous year? I hope that second semester will be better than the first.
of abundance -- an abundance of blessings, hope, and joy, and inspiration in the ordinary and the extraordinary.
Despite the challenges that 2021 brought, I am truly grateful for so many blessings — for time with loved-ones; for an especially loving beagle who makes me smile everyday; for a home that I have worked to make even more comfortable and beautiful this year; for recognizing and capturing the beauty that surrounds me; and, most of all, for another year to try again.
Tomorrow, I’ll reveal my word and plan to guide me through 2022.
