Holiday Intentions

 

When a wreath arrives from Children's Hospital each year, we know it is from Hazard and Diana (this year, in spirit). And it signals the beginning of the holiday season.  We have a great deal to reflect upon this year, and simpler is the order of the day for gifts, gatherings and celebrations.

We lack for nothing, especially since James will be home for two weeks of the month.

Our children and grandchildren are all thriving, each uniquely himself or herself.

We'll celebrate with neighbors and friends later this month --- Leroy reminded me yesterday that our holiday open house is actually older than I remembered.  We started it in 1978, with a full contingent of neighbors, university colleagues, Seattle Art Museum staff and Seattle area press.

Since I'll teach my last class of the fall quarter this week, there is a bit of a break from routine for the rest of December, and thus an opportunity to mix things up a bit more.

I'm going to add a weekly yoga class to my workouts; and try to maintain two hours a week of painting even after this watercolor session has ended mid-month.  And I'm determined to actually take advantage of some of the invitations I usually can't accept this time of year, to catch back up with others.

If I play my cards right, I won't have to make new intentions for next year -- I will already be living them.

How are you doing on those New Year's Resolutions?

 

That's the question from Erin Taylor, my Jasyoga teacher on Facebook today, and it's a good one.  Some of you may remember my fervent commitment at the end of November to be walking or training five days a week.  You would think I would have known that getting through Thanksgiving is not the same as getting through the entire holiday season.  And that life presents different challenges at odd times.

Between learning to teach two classes a week -- that's six hours in the classroom and another 18 hours of preparation each week -- and managing the administrative aspects of my company and taking on some last minute speaking engagements, I have not been exercising for at least two weeks now. And I can feel it.

 Hoping that we are through the worst of ennui and seasonal affective Seattle disorder, I am planning to recommit to the program starting tomorrow.  I just need to get through office hours and then my Friday three hour class first.