Day one of 2017. So far, I’ve cleaned the house, done the laundry and made time for meditation and yoga and now I’m writing. Less stress and more creativity – they are my resolutions. Making time for myself and my writing. Taking time out from the world. Not running to the phone every time someone calls or messages. Turning the phone off. Gratitude.
I have so much to be grateful for.
I am grateful for my three boys, who have grown into delightful young men. I am grateful for my eldest son’s partner and my adorable grandson. I am grateful for my family, widespread across the world, but brought closer by social media. I am grateful for my friends. I am grateful for my apartment. I am even grateful for my job which, despite its propensity to create stress in my life, pays for me to live. I am grateful for the ability to research ways to lessen the stress in my life and I am grateful for the motivation to put those strategies into place. I am grateful for my health which, even when I don’t feel wonderful, is still far better than the suffering of other people. I am grateful for being born the person I am, in the country I was and I am grateful for where I live now and the life I have.
Strategies to reduce stress are definitely my priority this year. Stress is not beneficial for health and I would choose health over stress any day. So, making time to meditate every day is very important. Even five minutes a day helps me. Techniques for breathing, ways to stay calm, learning not to take on too much, keeping my distance from negativity; I strive to remember these. Setting aside time for yoga each week. Daily yoga would be optimal, but at least twice a week is a good start for me.
Creativity. My writing is so important to me. I resolve to make time for writing every day. I won’t set word limits or time limits, but I will make sure to put even 10 minutes a day aside for writing. I didn’t do this last year and I suffered. More self-discipline is required in order to allow more time for creativity.
2017 will be the year I look after myself. I am determined to be kinder to myself. Healthy food, walks around the park, quiet times to read, maybe a massage or two along the way. Compatible times with good friends with or without a meal or a nice glass of wine. Less of the news – just watching the world disintegrate is stressful, more comedy and things which make me laugh, as it is supposed to be the best medicine!
So, here’s to a happy new year, a joyful, harmonious, stress free and abundantly creative 2017 for everyone. I can’t give you joy, harmony, stress free living or creativity but you can all take it for yourselves. Make this year your year too.
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I like to believe that the world is really not disintegrating – it just seems that way because our awareness of strife is heightened by media. Whole swathes of the world are at relative peace compared to olden days. As you said in one of your earlier posts, we can help good to flourish in our own spheres. All the best to you and yours, Alex.