Unfurling

When filling out my 2023 calendar in January, I flipped to the back and wrote this on December 1st: "What did you do? Go back and look. I'll bet it is more than you imagined." I completely forgot about writing that, but it's my handwriting, so I know it was me.

And that's what I did in the wee dark hours this morning - I went backward and looked through the pages of my calendar and notebooks and felt pretty good knowing I did my best to ride out the bumpy parts and enjoy the heck out of the sweet and easy bits. Isn't that what life is for everyone, tho? Bumps here and there, highs and lows, hitting the reset button occasionally, and (for me) having the courage to try new things. So glad I wrote that note to myself. I wasn't feeling inspired to decorate or bake cookies, and now I can feel that Christmas light flickering in me.

So, between now and Christmas Eve (my favorite night of the year), I will prepare the house for guests, put candles in the windows, and decorate a tree. I almost talked myself out of getting a tree this year until I looked backward at those pages! Phew, what was I thinking? I want and need to feel the warmth and light of Christmas deep in my heart, even if it's just me and the dog, for most of the month while I wait for my people to come home.

What does your year look like if you peek back? I hope you're proud of everything you did and easy on yourself for the trickier bits. Doing our best is enough. xo