finding joy in 2025

 A new year is upon us. 

None of us knows what these twelve months will bring. Some of us have already experienced tremendous highs and devastating lows. And we're only a month in. 

What I do know is that it's important to be intentional about celebrating the little joys in life, even (or perhaps especially) in the middle of heart breaking, overwhelming, anxiety producing news. 

I also want to be part of bringing light and hope to others. Yes, in ways that I am uniquely created to do.  If I feel prompted to act or speak in an encouraging way, I'm learning to quit overthinking and take the step and do it. Leave the outcome to Someone bigger than me. I am, of course, a work in progress. 

This year, I've taken a few steps to bring (or keep) more joy in my life. That means I've added a new practice or two and ended others. But how to determine what to change?  

I'm a fan of doing some regular reflection - attempting to make a habit of month end and year end (and sometimes day's end) reviews. What worked? What didn't work? What brought me joy? What drained me? What do I want more of? What do I want less of, or even to eliminate from my life at this time? When did I feel close to God? When did I feel distant? How did I fill my days? Sometimes you really don't know until you take some quiet moments to sit and think and perhaps journal reflectively. The next step might become clearer. 

A few gifts I've enjoyed this month: 

• almost daily 20 minute yoga
• a daily morning coffee/latte from our new Nespresso machine (crema...yum!)
• having a church acquaintance over for supper on a whim
• enjoying Harry Potter book #3-- no, I've never read them until this past month or so. I've watched the first movie. 
• spotting a tiny (northern pygmy?) owl perched on a rock near our shrubs, staring at me  as I stepped outside near the end of the day #abirdfromtheLord :)

Have you uncovered the gifts in your everyday life?  Take a little time to look for them. They are there. 

Happy New Year!

At this time of the year, I am busy looking back at the past year - what worked, what didn't, what I'm letting go of, what I'm looking ahead to, etc.. I've even pondered my word or phrase for the year, but that's not as clear as I'd like it to be yet. And of course, I'm setting some 'intentions' - what I'd like to have completed/accomplished in 2023. 

And then I came across this (older, but still so relevant!) song by Carolyn Arends (a Canadian singer/songwriter) in a newsletter in my inbox,  and it reminded me to chill! :) 

Hope you enjoy! 

Stepping into a New Year

The past few days, I have been reviewing my year by looking back at journals, photos, calendars, etc. I've reflected to gain a bit of clarity... what worked, what didn't work, highs, lows, gratitudes, what I'm holding onto, what I'm letting go, and so on.  I probably spent too much time looking back, but I believe it's quite true that you really can't move ahead until you look back. These reflections help me make acknowledge and accept my life as it has changed this past year. And then I look ahead to map out a plan of sorts for the new year. 

photo from jesuitinstitute.org

One of the most helpful exercises was working through a year-end Examen exercise. The Examen is generally used as a reflection of the day by prayerfully answering a few simple questions.  The particular Examen document  I used for my year end originally came from Rev. Summer Gross of The Presence Project, although I can't seem to locate the online PDF anymore.   It included looking back for consolations and being curious with desolations.  Consolation literally means 'with the sun' and desolation means 'without the sun'. It reminds me where I felt connected to God and where I experienced distress, overwhelm, and negative feelings. What gave me life and what drained my energy? With this clarity, I could look back at my soul's journey, and be reminded that God is with me in everything! 

This activity, as well as a few others, has helped me reorient myself for the year ahead. I know how fleeting these moments of surety and confidence can feel, though. I've even had moments today of overwhelm simply by reading one too many Instagram news posts on what is happening in Canada with more lockdowns and craziness. Arghh! 

Here's to one foot in front of the other in 2022, hand in hand with our loving Creator. 

Photo by Jordan Wozniak on Unsplash

One Word 2020

The new year is upon us. We have stepped out from 2019 and before us stretches a fresh new decade and year.  Old calendars are removed and replaced with crisp, new ones. In the air there is a feeling of promise for what could be. Are you ready for 2020?

I've been pondering my Word for 2020, and tried a few on for size. I wanted the word to evoke positive thoughts, to be meaningful for where I'm at right now in my life circumstances, and to be almost like a breath prayer.

I've settled on  the word BREATHE.

I can't help but think of my precious grandchild who was born the other day, on December 29th. He took his first breath at 7:15 a.m. What a miracle life is!

Breath is the foundation of life. There is no life without it. It permeates our being.

Our breath is holy, since it originated with God. According to Genesis 2, He breathed his breath in us, and we became living souls.  That's a thought to sit with!

When I'm overwhelmed, the word BREATHE will remind me to get back to basics. I'll stop tensing up and trying to figure things out. Just breathe. In and out.  Finding my breath will help me to surrender what I can not do in my own strength. It will remind me that I'm going into 2020 with God, rather than on my own, and that He's always with me, as near as my breath.

I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

Have you chosen a word or phrase for 2020?

New Year, New Word, More Me

So, the Christmas season has officially come and gone. Ordinary Time begins.

 The  remnants of my decorations include the pointsettia plants I received, which are still thriving. I usually let them hang around until  they drop off their leaves once and for all from lack of watering ;)  As well, I have some greenery in our planters outside, which bring beauty to an otherwise drab looking entrance. In the spring I'll deal with those! I do keep up some indoor winter decor until the spring season arrives. I enjoy having a little seasonal decor in my home.

Along with the new year comes thoughts of a new word or phrase for the year. I've pondered this for a while and have decided that my OneWord this year will be community. I feel that that word encompasses a lot. For me, it represents my intention to  get outside of my head more often (hello Enneagram 5!) and put some more action behind my thoughts and ideas. I'm going to keep a journal of all the ways that I have participated in 'community' in 2019. Will it change my life for the better? Will I become more of who God created me to be? We shall see. I don't want a NEW ME, I want to be MORE ME. And of course, that sometimes means making uncomfortable choices. Leaving the security of the comfort zone and stepping out. Small ways and small steps count!

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Do you have a focus for 2019?

More

More. That's the word that I'm taking into 2018 with me. I don't do resolutions anymore, mainly because they don't really work for me. I do like to set goals or 'intentions' as is the buzzword these days, it seems. But I don't intend to list them or berate myself for failing to meet them.

Back to 'more'. This word is directly related to the verse I'm holding onto for this year.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen

Now, I'm not sure what this is going to look like for me and my family this year. But nevertheless, it is God's Word and since He doesn't lie, I'll continue to believe it. By faith, because isn't that the only way we can hold onto promises? We trust that the one who makes them will keep them. 

The Year That Was

Here we are... looking out over a vast space with no idea what is going to transpire in the next twelve months. Every year is like that.

I guess you could also say it's like being handed an unopened gift, but one that can only be examined one little bit at a time. No tearing and ripping into it.  Not until the end of the year are we able to look back and give an opinion on the year that was.

The year that was...
As I was journalling one day, I wrote an entry called Life and Death in 2017. Because it really was the year of life and death. Literally and figuratively. To sum it up,  it was a VERY HARD YEAR. And yet, it held some of the biggest joys of my life, too. Life is like that.

Truth be told, when it's hard, we really find out what we really believe and where we really put our trust and hope. We find out how important our community is. We are thankful for little things. We keep telling ourselves the truth. We take less for granted and we hold more tightly to things we value (and they're not really usually things). We know how fleeting life is. We only have today. Who knows what tomorrow brings?

My 'mantra' for 2017 was "Always, we begin again". It was so apt for me. I'm going to take that into 2018 as well, because I think it's a life saver. We can't look back and dwell on regrets or missteps. Yes, we can learn, but in the end, we begin again. Take what we've learned and move ahead. Begin again.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Next post: One Word 2018

Begin Again

Happy New Year everyone!

At this time of the year, many are sharing their "One Word"  for the year. I find that very interesting. I think it's a great practice, usually because it helps us stay aware of how we are living our lives, it's a positive focus, and it helps us on the way to becoming the 'best version of ourselves' as it's commonly referred to. This, for me, means I want to continue to grow personally in my journey of being transformed through the power of God, to bring him glory, to grow in love towards myself, others, and God.

Having said all that, I'm not so great at One Words.  Sometimes I don't even remember my One Word for the year. For example, as I was reviewing my journals, I realized my word for 2016 was "listen". I guess I actually HAVE been working at being a better listener but I had forgotten that I had chosen that as my One Word. Oh well. Such is me.

This year, I have settled on a phrase instead of a word:  Always, we begin again. (St. Benedict)

If I start a fitness program, and drop off, I'll pick myself up and begin again.
If I start strong in my healthy eating goals, and then lose my resolve, I'll begin again.
If I lose my patience or hope or will, I'll pick myself up and begin again.
If I feel overwhelmed, I'll look up, and begin again.
If I start something I really want to do and peeter out, I'll begin again.
If I do things out of selfish ambition and love is not evident, I will repent, and begin again.
If I find myself mired in life-sucking activities, I'll repent, and begin again.

Yes, no matter what, I will keep on keeping on. Always, I will begin again. By the grace of God.