Ballast

I love New Year’s Eve. I understand it is an arbitrary marker in an arbitrary calendar, but it is the way in which the global collective has agreed (generally) to recognize an ending and a beginning. We all read the final pages of one year, and tomorrow we turn to the first page of the new year. There is so little the entire world agrees to do together and at the same time. Imagine if we managed to do so more than once a year.

Throughout December I’m thinking about New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Here are questions I ask myself. I invite you to spend time journaling on the same questions – whenever you read this post.

1. What do I need to let go of from the past year? Don’t grab at the first answer that comes to mind. Close your eyes. Take a several deep breaths. Ask yourself again – what do I need to let go of from this year? How will this letting go happen? Do you need to conduct a ritual of some kind? Writing it down and burning it is always helpful for me. Do you need to write a letter to someone (you don’t have to send it)? Do you need to stand outside and scream? Do you need to dance or move in some other way to let it go? Write until you truly know what it is you need to do.
2. What do I want to cultivate in my new year? Again, don’t grab the first answer that comes to mind and for goodness sake, please don’t start with a specific number of pounds you need to lose (you will never see the phrase my health journey in this blog – I promise you)! Imagine there is a small seed comfortably buried inside of you. It is about ready to start pushing toward the light, to sprout its first leaves. What will this seed become? What do you need to do to ensure you can take care of it, nurture it to its full potential?

What about New Year’s resolutions you ask? I’m a fan. Make them if they’re helpful to you. Don’t make them if they only provide you yet one more thing about which you feel guilt and shame. My suggestions – for what they’re worth:

1. Select slow resolutions. What does that mean? Significant changes do not happen in 30 days or even three months. Give yourself time. Steady yourself with time. Consider starting a practice not reaching a specific goal. Can you devote ten minutes a day toward for the entire new year? Such devotion creates depth. Depth can create ballast.
2. Orient your resolutions toward what you’re trying to cultivate. What kind of environment does your resolution need to thrive? For example, I want to cultivate a quieter (and steadier) internal landscape for myself. So one of my resolutions this year is to develop better sleep hygiene, in particular, leaving my phone outside of the bedroom and reading before bed (instead of scrolling). I also want to replace my addiction to political podcasts with podcasts focused on creativity, writing, storytelling, and humor. Turn down the noise which leads to me feeling unsteady and turn up on the sound on what gives me ballast.

I wish you a gentle beginning to your New Year. Recognize the opportunity a metaphorical blank page allows.