A Year of Wonder
This was me at the San Diego Botanical Gardens seasonal Lightscape, and having never been before, it was a lovely post-holiday treat. The kind that made me feel optimistic heading into a new year. Because let’s face it, the build-up to Christmas can leave a person (particularly a person who works for a living and typically gets/takes time off around the holidays) feeling a bit dismayed (read: completely depressed) once it’s over.
And that’s what I was feeling.
Back to work, back to the grind. As much as any of us may like our jobs, nothing beats time off. Especially time off spent with family. Super especially when those family members are giving us gifts. And most super especially when all of this family gift-giving while enjoying time off is laced with the frequent enjoying of festive baked goods and holiday spreads. I mean, eating delicious treats? Spending time with family? Opening gifts given to you by that family? And all while not having to work? Isn’t this what we as humans were made for?? Aren’t these the kinds of days we should be having year-round?? Oh, what’s that again? BILLS?
In any case, I’ve been looking for things to keep my post-holiday spirits up, and a new year is always a deliciously optimistic proposition to me. Because anything can happen. And despite tragedy and disappointment that can (and will) happen outside any of our control, there’s a shockingly high number of things we CAN control as we consider what we want to do and become in the course of a year. Jobs, hobbies, relationships, dreams, goals. There are cities to visit, trips to take, relationships to form or mend, skills to learn, houses to build or improve, babies to welcome, pets to rescue, and on and on and on as you so desire.
I’m using 2025 to (hopefully) run my first half marathon, something that is hard for me and so means a lot to potentially achieve. I’m remodeling my guest bathroom, deciding between various pops of color and floor tile. I’d like to bake scones, to stay on the Queen Mary, to volunteer more in my community. I plan on reading more, replenishing my herb garden, and writing letters to friends and sending them in the mail. You know, with stamps. Most imminently, I’m launching a new book, one I hope you’ll read and appreciate in all the ways I hoped you would when I wrote it. Which means that in 2025, I plan to start writing a new book. Because that’s what we do. We achieve, we celebrate, we move on, and then we start again.
(You can order a signed copy of the new book through the form on this website if you are not attending the launch signing or if you live outside of San Diego.)