As always, I nod my head (and whisper in my heart) in total agreement with you. Even though I am not in folks’ heads to read their thoughts, their actions speak of themselves feeling invincible and not caring about others’ needs to distance. I mask… I give great distance… even though I feel crowded.
The New Year is just another day, although some folks feel the need for raucous celebration. Me?… I am going to carry on as usual, get horizontal when the need calls, and anoint myself with oils to pray and meditate.
Happy New year Chris! Your posts have definitely enriched my life. I only ever feel LOVE from your ‘irritableness” Thank-you! Not sure what my word is going to be, it may very well be writing. I’ve always desired to express myself better through the written word.
"You won’t ever convince me that checking in with ourselves to make sure we are keeping a keen eye on what is important to us isn’t time well spent." I love this perspective. I have a lot of friends who do the one-word thing, and it doesn't really cut it for me. I need more meditative feeling into something, maybe.
Thank you for that video. It's so important and hard. The Flathead is going to see a hard January, I fear. And who knows how it will hit even people who *are* vaccinated.
You are a light, Chris, not just for our times but for all times.
I love the idea of "raucous celebratory mayhem". Like you, my commitment to the NYE celebration faded many years ago.
Thank you for the kind shout-out. It is fascinating to see which words resonate with people as an anchor for the year. The mention also brought some new readers my way.
The COVID numbers are rising here in Wisconsin and more people in my circles despite vaccinations and boosters are getting sick.
I always enjoy your newsletters. Thank you for your words.
Chris, I think I subscribed for the first time this past year, and your posts always make my inbox a better place. Happy and healthy New Year to you and your loved ones.
Covid is escalating here in New Hampshire as well. Recently, the CEO of our local hospital here in Keene practically begged the City Council to re-establish a mask mandate. And they did. No sooner did a local police lieutenant take to his personal Facebook page to encourage his followers to ignore the mandate. You cannot make this up. Perhaps he should take a trip to the hospital to check things out. God forbid he breaks his leg on the way, because due to a shortage of available beds and staff, he may be diverted to a medical facility in another state. Our hospital is drowning in Covid.
So people, please get vaccinated, please mask up, and please be a warrior! Endeavor to protect others.
And remember in the event that you consider elderly people expendable, that you would not be here but for us. Also remember that no matter your age, you are vulnerable and susceptible. My own grandson has had Covid twice despite the fact that when eligible he received his vaccinations. When you wear a mask you are doing what you can do to help us all. BE A WARRIOR!
the video is strong and true but not preachy or judgmental. thanks for sharing it. i cannot see a future for us, but i'm old, so it isn't necessary for me. still, i hope others are preparing the way for humans and for community in some after-time.
I took great pleasure in reading this on the first morning of 2022. You are such a lovely voice in this world. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts. (And for the card, which we LOVED!)
I'm grateful for recently finding your words here on the rarely traversed, in my case, Internet. They go right to heart. A good and safe New Year to you and yours. 🌲👣
Grateful to have found your blog this year and to have two of your books on my shelf. I've shared this blog post with my small circle of blog friends near and far. Irritable and not so irritable is one of many things I can relate to. You speak for those of us who are just learning to speak for ourselves. For 2022: Honesty
We had made a dinner reservation for tonight weeks ago, but as we talked about it today, my wife and I found that we both wanted to cancel it, but were worried that we'd disappoint the other with another 2021 cancellation of a celebratory moment.
I don't have a word for next year, but my mantra is going to be something that I learned at a trial skills training last spring: I am a verb, not a noun.
I love the idea of thinking of a word to meditate on in the coming year--thanks for sharing that practice and Tammy's journal. And the movie is such a good reminder of what we're living with.
So much great stuff in this writing. Thanks for the mask up reminder. Great video. Yes, it’s easy to get lax about it all. But last year I didn’t have a cold or flu, so something was working. And not handing out Covid to others should be incentive enough.
The resolution thing. I don’t normally do those either. My self talk hasn’t been great lately. Maybe my word could be “Elevate”. I’ll think on it.
Hope to join you on the Zoom meeting.
I’ll email you that video of our ducks sharing food with the neighborhood crows.
I should probably go with "peace," but if I'm honest (another great word), I'll probably go with "Snuffleupagus," because that word makes me laugh. Feeling tense, "Sunffleupagus." Feeling blue, "Snuffleupagus." Like that. Write on! Kurt
My word for the new year:
Compost
As always, I nod my head (and whisper in my heart) in total agreement with you. Even though I am not in folks’ heads to read their thoughts, their actions speak of themselves feeling invincible and not caring about others’ needs to distance. I mask… I give great distance… even though I feel crowded.
The New Year is just another day, although some folks feel the need for raucous celebration. Me?… I am going to carry on as usual, get horizontal when the need calls, and anoint myself with oils to pray and meditate.
Shall check into Tammy’s online journal.
Thank You for yet another wonderful post!!
Happy New year Chris! Your posts have definitely enriched my life. I only ever feel LOVE from your ‘irritableness” Thank-you! Not sure what my word is going to be, it may very well be writing. I’ve always desired to express myself better through the written word.
"You won’t ever convince me that checking in with ourselves to make sure we are keeping a keen eye on what is important to us isn’t time well spent." I love this perspective. I have a lot of friends who do the one-word thing, and it doesn't really cut it for me. I need more meditative feeling into something, maybe.
Thank you for that video. It's so important and hard. The Flathead is going to see a hard January, I fear. And who knows how it will hit even people who *are* vaccinated.
You are a light, Chris, not just for our times but for all times.
I love the idea of "raucous celebratory mayhem". Like you, my commitment to the NYE celebration faded many years ago.
Thank you for the kind shout-out. It is fascinating to see which words resonate with people as an anchor for the year. The mention also brought some new readers my way.
The COVID numbers are rising here in Wisconsin and more people in my circles despite vaccinations and boosters are getting sick.
I always enjoy your newsletters. Thank you for your words.
Chris, I think I subscribed for the first time this past year, and your posts always make my inbox a better place. Happy and healthy New Year to you and your loved ones.
My word-concept for 2022: expansion.
Hi Chris,
Covid is escalating here in New Hampshire as well. Recently, the CEO of our local hospital here in Keene practically begged the City Council to re-establish a mask mandate. And they did. No sooner did a local police lieutenant take to his personal Facebook page to encourage his followers to ignore the mandate. You cannot make this up. Perhaps he should take a trip to the hospital to check things out. God forbid he breaks his leg on the way, because due to a shortage of available beds and staff, he may be diverted to a medical facility in another state. Our hospital is drowning in Covid.
So people, please get vaccinated, please mask up, and please be a warrior! Endeavor to protect others.
And remember in the event that you consider elderly people expendable, that you would not be here but for us. Also remember that no matter your age, you are vulnerable and susceptible. My own grandson has had Covid twice despite the fact that when eligible he received his vaccinations. When you wear a mask you are doing what you can do to help us all. BE A WARRIOR!
My magical word is LISTEN.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year.
Sincerely,
Melissa
the video is strong and true but not preachy or judgmental. thanks for sharing it. i cannot see a future for us, but i'm old, so it isn't necessary for me. still, i hope others are preparing the way for humans and for community in some after-time.
How you weave and blend daily events, poetry , what you care about , life as it is, beautifully spoken at the end of this year of wonder and trials
I took great pleasure in reading this on the first morning of 2022. You are such a lovely voice in this world. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts. (And for the card, which we LOVED!)
I'm grateful for recently finding your words here on the rarely traversed, in my case, Internet. They go right to heart. A good and safe New Year to you and yours. 🌲👣
Grateful to have found your blog this year and to have two of your books on my shelf. I've shared this blog post with my small circle of blog friends near and far. Irritable and not so irritable is one of many things I can relate to. You speak for those of us who are just learning to speak for ourselves. For 2022: Honesty
We had made a dinner reservation for tonight weeks ago, but as we talked about it today, my wife and I found that we both wanted to cancel it, but were worried that we'd disappoint the other with another 2021 cancellation of a celebratory moment.
I don't have a word for next year, but my mantra is going to be something that I learned at a trial skills training last spring: I am a verb, not a noun.
I love the idea of thinking of a word to meditate on in the coming year--thanks for sharing that practice and Tammy's journal. And the movie is such a good reminder of what we're living with.
So much great stuff in this writing. Thanks for the mask up reminder. Great video. Yes, it’s easy to get lax about it all. But last year I didn’t have a cold or flu, so something was working. And not handing out Covid to others should be incentive enough.
The resolution thing. I don’t normally do those either. My self talk hasn’t been great lately. Maybe my word could be “Elevate”. I’ll think on it.
Hope to join you on the Zoom meeting.
I’ll email you that video of our ducks sharing food with the neighborhood crows.
I should probably go with "peace," but if I'm honest (another great word), I'll probably go with "Snuffleupagus," because that word makes me laugh. Feeling tense, "Sunffleupagus." Feeling blue, "Snuffleupagus." Like that. Write on! Kurt