2010: Powerful. Revealing. Restorative.
I feel a peaceful satisfaction reflecting on the past year. When I imagine stepping into a new year, I have a vision of slowly opening my palms to reveal a smoky curl lifting all that is unresolved over my shoulders and behind me. Into the past. I like it :]
If we let go, 2010 will fall behind us. But some discoveries are worth saving for future reference.
Truths I’ll be tucking into my pockets for next year are:
Love.
When I eat simply and well, I feel calm, balanced, and nourished.
You will never regret taking a few minutes to spend time with your pets.
Massage is me, after all. I had my doubts in those first six months post-grad.
Also on massage: after nearly two years of anatomy, ethics, countless technique classes, a 16-page business plan and hundreds of massage hours under your belt, you start to relax. This is because you have no idea that the Universe is about to bring you a knee swollen to more than four times its original size, two women who recently lost their mothers and the mother of one-year-old who just became a widow (all of whom will cry on your table), your first very thin HIV-positive client, a sweet man who has inexplicable and worsening numbness in all of his limbs (and his doctors can’t tell him why), women who are unable to relax due to past trauma, and an uber-creepy (and stinky) guy you end up having to fire because you feel unsafe. It has been humbling, to say the least. But I’m learning how to embrace this very raw, human aspect of giving touch and I’m going to stick with it.
Anytime I’ve worked 40 or more hours a week, I’ve hated it. I feel like a zombie, my immune system goes to shit, and I’m just generally unpleasant to be around. So I’m not doing it anymore. The school provides a cool 23 hours each week (plus benefits) and I have eight one-hour massage slots available at my clinic. That’s enough. My financial needs are met and I have ample time to play, which is important because…
My astoundingly imaginative, perceptive, and creative little child-soul thrives on the nourishment of my presence. I’ll be lavishing attention on my artist this year. She needs a lot of love and encouragement.
So that’s what I learned. And because so often creative time comes last, when I’m tired enough to carry it over until the next day, and the next, and then the weekend, I’m going to schedule it this year. So today, January 1st, is Day 1 of two new endeavors: Project365 and 52 Crafts.
Project365 is a one photo a day for one year project. I attempted this last year and started slacking halfway through February. This year, I’m determined: I took eight photos before noon today (I’ll select just one to represent the day). I’ll create a folder on my Flickr account and post there, and possibly on Facebook and here as well, though not every day.
52 Crafts is a wonderful experiment in creative productivity that several forum pals are taking on as well. We’ll complete something creative every week for a year. Larger projects may be broken down into smaller ones. Writing counts for me, but blog entries won’t. I’ll have to post a short story or a few little poems to feel that it constitutes an honest completed project. If I do enough experimental cooking during a week, I may let that squeak by as well. But the real heart of this undertaking is keeping at it despite anything that may come your way this year. I, being ever-industrious, cheated a bit and started a few works this week…but they’ll be completed in 2011 :]
My reading count also started over today, and my goal is the same as last year — 50 books. My new Kindle should help :]
Ok…I’m off to sip a hot rice milk latte from a handmade pottery mug and attempt the first closet clean-out of 2011. Happy New Year lovelies — thanks for reading!