What do you think about when you look back? Do you see the joy or the pain, the mistakes or the accomplishments, or do you avoid looking at all?
The Past Can Be A Teacher Or A Ghost.
Memories change over time. I don't like to use the vignette feature of photo apps because it seems to tone down the photographs but isn't that what my brain does without even asking it to? Doesn't it tone down the sharp edges of the past, my mistakes as well as my accomplishments? What was real? Sometimes I write things down so I can remember. For some reason, we have kept each of our wall calendars since we started keeping wall calendars but we never look at them. It seems like the painful memories are too stark, too real, too sharp to relive. What I needed to learn from my mistakes, I eventually learned, or else I am still making them. Those are the ghosts - the ones that continue to haunt me. Maybe this year I will change that behavior.
Prepare your Heart For 2025.
As 2024 draws to a close I want to leave no stone unturned. Have I thanked everyone who helped me this year? Not Yet. Have I recognized my faults and attempted to correct them? Better call Bruce and my children to get a reality check on that one. Have I taken time for myself? Yes. Have I had fun? Yes. Am I holding onto burdens from the past that are weighing me down? I don't think so but I'm sure they will come back around if and when I need to confront them.
Reflect - Don't Stare.
Reflection is tender. Staring is brutal. Reflection has ripples that dissipate over time and space. Staring is rude as my mother used to say. Staring freezes me in time and space. It reminds me of the Superman movie where the bad guy was imprisoned in a cube floating in space forever. Reflection is malleable and comforting.
Sending Thank You Notes.
I love to send and receive thank you notes. I love taking the time to think of just the right way to thank someone for a gift that I know they gave to me in love and kindness. In today's environment, I don't have physical addresses for many of the people and places I want to thank. This year I am filled with gratitude for the people and places who helped me on my artistic journey. I want to recognize them in some way so I created a little video so I can tag them to let them know how much their support means to me.
Happy new year tou you and to your famuly!