When We Get Stuck December 24, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Bulletin Board, Gratitude, Happiness, Mindfulness.Tags: Flow, Happiness, Holiday, Mindfulness, Newsletters, Tigger
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I’ve been writing annual missives for thirty years.
Sometimes, the words flow easily.
Other years, it’s a struggle to balance joys and sorrows.
This year, I got stuck, mired in memories.
To get unstuck, I flipped through 29 previous newsletters, noting the constant opening and closing of doors ~ births, deaths, marriages, graduations.
That’s life.
Like it or not, the arrival and departure of people, places, and things (friends, jobs, pets, homes, and hobbies) form the fabric of our lives ~ each milestone and experience woven into a seamless tapestry with no clear delineation or demarcation to mark the passage from one moment to the next as we live in the NOW.
2012, like a toddler throwing a tantrum while navigating the terrible twos, has been filled with difficult moments and not-so-subtle reminders that the only constant in life is change.
Dad died. Mom can no longer live alone. A house filled with memories must be sold. Tigger has diabetes. My sister is still seeking a cure for vision and mobility issues. Hurricane Sandy re-arranged the East Coast. A lone gunman stepped into a school and opened fire, killing 22 students and teachers.
Life, like time, flows in a single stream. We cannot double back, detour around rough patches, or request a “do-over.” There’s no “rewind” button. We cannot press “pause.” This is IT.
We live it . . . or we miss it.
Even when we are standing still, mired in memories of what was, life continues to ebb and flow around us . . . gaining momentum as we age.
But, just as Y2K did NOT signal the end of the world, neither will 2012.
Life will keep flowing forward and we will flow with it, doing our best to live happily ever after on a moment by moment basis . . . enjoying family reunions, playing miniature golf with nieces and nephews, relaxing on the beach.
We are HERE and it is NOW . . . what else is there?
Aah . . . that’s better!
LIfe in a stream, let it flow, go with the flow. Y2K did not happen you are right nor the big hype about the Mayan apocalyptic message. Thank you for your constant reminder of be HERE, NOW. Merry Christmas. Namaste.
Thanks, Seeker. This has been a challenging year for many people . . . if we keep moving forward we eventually emerge from even the darkest tunnels.
Namaste. _/!\_
Santa has the right idea
Merry Christmas, Nancy
That the graphic I included on the Annual Newsletter we mailed out . . . no matter what’s going on, we benefit if we take a bit of a breather.
Merry Christmas!
You are so right about 2012 being like a toddler throwing a tantrum. It was awful. But you are also right in writing that we must go forward. Thank you for all your support and inspirational posts over the past horrid year. Merry Christmas.
Thanks, Cin . . . 2012 will never be in my Top Ten list of favorite years. But, in between the horrid bits, we found moments of joy and happiness. At times, that’s the best we can hope for. Here’s to 2013!
Life is good but life is short. Bad things happen. Laugh when you can.
A lovely thoughtful post today! I really enjoy reading your blogs and look forward to sharing part of your journey in 2013. Take care
Thanks, Lorraine. I’m delighted to have met you this year. Enjoy the rest of 2012 . . . and start 2013 off with a smile on your face.
It sounds like 2012 was horrible for a lot of us.
Roll on 2013.
2012 . . . NOT a great year for many of us. It got us from THERE to HERE, and we had a few laughs along the way.
Here’s to brighter days ahead.
2012 didn’t turn out to be one of our great years either but I am always hopeful that the new year will be off the charts. Have a great holiday!
Thanks, Kate! Yes . . . here’s to 2013 and brighter days.
Yes… for better or for worse, life always goes on.
Even in the midst of sad moments, there is always something to smile about. Here’s to focusing on the joy of the present.
Wishing you only happiness this Holiday Season, Nancy! And more of the very same in 2013!
Thank you very much, kind sir. I hope that you find merry moments behind every door that opens . . . or closes.
“We live it or we miss it.” Just the reminder I needed to not forget to enjoy the Right This Minute of things. Happy Holidays to you, dear. Thanks for being a source of merry for me year round
Thanks, Tori. You’ve added to my “jolly” this year. Ho! Ho! Ho!
Loved the last pic Nancy. Merry Xmas
Thanks, Jas! Have a love-filled and wonderful day tomorrow.
ah yes, the opening and closing of doors….but as you write, coming back to that moment by moment basis… “we are here, it is now”
We live in the present of the present.
Excellent piece today, Hatch. We still have another week to make 2012 the best it can be.
Yes! We’ve had a lovely Christmas Eve with our 2 nieces. Games, Ping Pong, Movies, Laughter, Fun, and Food.
Merry Christmas!
I caught up on the three episodes of American Horror Story that I missed. Before you pity me, that’s exactly how I like to spend an evening at home!
Merry Christmas to you as well.
Glad you got to spend the evening at home . . . catching up. It’s been a tiring few days. I’m ready to SLEEP LATE tomorrow.
It’s all about now, this moment Nancy. I learned that right here at your blog. And learned some more good things when we saw you and BFF. Thanks for blogging and giving me the little nudge I need some days. May you and BFF enjoy this Christmas Eve!
Thanks, Pix. We had a lovely day. Hope you’re feeling fully restored by the time Christmas morning greets you and CH.
Great piece. Hope 2013 is better.
Here’s to brighter days ahead.
This is a beautiful post and the tears started to roll down my cheeks. 2012 was a difficult year for me as well but in the midst of sorrow I have found there is also happiness in the little things that makes up the space of my day. Merry Christmas to you and BFF!
Thanks, Marie. That’s exactly my experience . . . even in the midst of sorrow, there is always something to smile about. Merry Christmas to you and your S/O.
2012 was a tough year for many of us, but whatever 2013 brings, we have to live that too; we are always in the NOW.
Thanks for the insightful post Nancy.
Thanks, Barb. I’m sure by now your Christmas is in full swing . . . hope it’s a merry one for you and yours.
It was a tough year, but you’re right, we are here and it is now. Thanks so much for the reminder! Thanks for staying in touch although I am, as always, slack about writing. So good to hear from you. Shoot me an e-mail so I can have your e-mail address – unorganized as usual! Merry Christmas to you and Bill!
Thanks, Jackie . . . Merry Christmas to you, Tom, and the boys. E-mail on its way. Have a wonderful day tomorrow.
Merry Christmas, Nancy.
Hope you and BFF have a carefree day.
bb
xx
Your celebration is no doubt in full swing already, BB! Hope its been a merry one. Enjoy.
Sometimes it does seem like there is more rain than sunshine to report. I don’t write the holiday letters, mainly because I don’t want my good things to come off as boasting, or my bad things to drive my friends and family to drink
We’ve moved around so much that it’s been a good way to keep in touch with friends and family in NC, SC, VA, MD, NJ, CA, FL, etc. But it’s not as satisfying as sitting down face to face.
You know, I couldn’t agree more, Nancy. My year, too, has been most strange and even when we chose to stand still events flowed relentlessly past us. Truth is, change is painful but it’s the way the world is wired. I guess we need to bend like a reed in the wind…
Yes. We must. Hope you had a merry day today.
I don’t know why 2012 has been so bad for so many people. I thought 2011 was bad for me and then 2012 came and blew my bad 2011 year away. At this point, I feel some things will get worse but others will get better and we want to focus on the positive. I saw this idea of Facebook and my kids are all for it, so we’re starting it January 1. We’re keeping a jar where we’ll put notes about the good things that happen to us throughout the year. At the end of the year, we’ll open the jar and read the notes. As my 6-year old said, we’re saving the memories. I hope you still had a great Christmas.
That’s a great idea, Milka! It could be reviewed at Thanksgiving too . . . gratitude for the good counterbalances the not-so-good.
We had a pleasant Christmas. It was great having two of my nieces here for a couple of days. Seems quiet now.
I couldn’t agree more and the line…the only constant in life is change… Is perfect. When we accept this we will surely find greater peace within and without. Andrea
Thanks, Andrea. Acceptance of the “what is” (when it cannot be changed) allows inner peace to surface. And peace allows droplets of joy to become puddles.
” droplets of joy….” Perfect
Splish Splash.
The 2012 box of chocolates certainly seemed short on soft centres. Some people hogged the ones there were, though.
Yup, 2012 was a “tough nut” to crack. I’ve rarely imbued years with personalities . . . but 2012 did seem toddlerish.
Or maybe cantankerous old-ageish!
Yes. The olde curmudgeon!
Beautiful post Nancy. As always you cut to the case without drama. Definitely a very tough year for you and I do trust 2013 will be more peaceful for you and your family.
Seasons Greetings to you and yours.
Thanks, Robyn! Hope you and the rest of the Team had a MERRY day yesterday.
Actually, the day-before for us now! Thursday here! I’m doing some much needed catching up as I am home for the week!
Oh, that’s right! Enjoy your time off.
does your sister have ms? the vision/mobility makes me wonder please tell her to be sure to avoid msg and spartame. i had double vision problems years ago and then lost my vision for 24 hours, and both times i had been drinking drinks w/aspartame. i am sure that’s what caused my problems.
i hope that 2013 is kind to you and your loved ones.
siempre,
lisa/z
Thanks, Lisa. She has MS and/or Lyme Disease and is trying to cure herself with natural homeopathic remedies, dietary changes, etc. She’s on a sugar free, gluten free, vegan, mostly raw diet . . . and drinks copious amounts of carrot juice. But she’s still wobbly.
As an exclamation point to the year . . . my mom landed in the hospital yesterday after an apparent stroke. But all the tests were negative. So no diagnosis yet. We’ll know when we know.
Here’s to 2013!
wow. i’ll never forget when i said to my neighbor, ‘i don’t think i can take anymore,’ and not long after that i found that i could take much much more. sometimes we wonder, though, as we adjust to new surprises and concerns.
i hope that your mother makes a complete recovery, and it sounds as if your sister is doing all that she can possibly do. i too had a possible diagnosis of ms, which is why i so quickly picked up on that about your sister. the first question all of the doctors asked were ,’are you diabetic, and the question about ms.
may 2013 bring good things to you and your family.
z
Thanks, Lisa. 2012 has been full of challenges for everyone in the family . . . as well as for plenty of friends, acquaintances, and blogging buddies.
Here’s hoping that 2013 is a bit easier on the lot of us.
Best wishes for 2013 for you and your family.
Love the photo of you sitting on the porch
Thanks, Tok. Here’s to bright horizons . . . as far as the eye can see.