Do you ever feel like you’re climbing an uphill battle of sorts? Looking ahead all you see is a difficult, seemingly impossible climb to the top. You can’t predict what’s waiting for you, so you must trust in the process. Lately, I’m feeling like I’ve been climbing and climbing with the top of the mountain just out of sight. Frustration, fear, uncertainty and vulnerability have plagued my view.

Having my daughter home during isolation has been a blessing. It’s been nice to be able to make and enjoy meals together. During the day, we work across from each other at the dining room table as her two felines, Tillie and Leroy have the run of the house. With only essential trips out and both of us occupying the space, some days there seemed to be a large amount of mishaps going on inside the fray.

At the end of 2019, I was part of a published compilation book with a total of 52 authors, titled Kindness Crusader. The idea of the book was one chapter for each week of the year. Depending on where the author’s story landed in the book translated into the week they were responsible for reaching out and connecting with the community within the collective group. My story landed on week 15.

My brother Jeff and I talk on a regular basis and one thing about him that always makes me laugh is the man is prepared for just about anything. I don’t mean because we are in week three of isolating at home due to COVID19 but just because! He has spares of just about anything you can think of.

Along with most of the world, I’ve been trying to come up with things to do during this Coronavirus isolation phase. This week in the US, most states announced shut-downs of non-essential businesses and asked the population to avoid going out of their homes unless it was a necessity. In doing so, people are coming up with creative ways to stay active and in-touch with others while cooped up at home.

Oh my goodness, what a crazy few weeks it’s been with the state of the world, the Coronavirus and the media. To be honest, I try to be informed about current events but also don’t watch the news on a regular basis because it’s mostly negative. It’s refreshing whenever I hear the feel-good news I know is out there but not focused on.

This past Sunday, International Women’s Day was celebrated and I was proud to be part of the movement that recognized women’s rights around the world.

This week I was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin kitty-sitting. My daughter had to go out of town for business and I offered to come up and take care of Tillie, the long-haired white and tan sassy but sweet matriarch and Leroy, the younger, short-haired gray with white paws, loving obedient servant.

Inner wisdom, also known as intuition is something we all possess. It knows our truth, authentic self and heart. We had no trouble following our inner wisdom as children; it was natural, easy and felt good, but as adults we think too logically and somehow manage to creep out of our heart space and into our head. Letting the head take over will wreak havoc on our mind, body and spirit.

Every December, my high school girlfriends take turns hosting our yearly holiday get together. The hostess decides on the menu, theme and particulars about the celebration; then cascades it to the group. This year my friend Jill, hosted the evening and decided it would be the year of “my favorite things.” She provided details for each person to bring three of their favorite “somethings.” It could have been different items or all the same.

There’s a little known secret in the land of motherhood or spouse hood, or family hood, etc., that women think it’s selfish to do for themselves before others. Where did that come from anyway?

Over the last few weeks I’ve seen noticeable changes in my yoga practice. So much that I almost gasped out loud at a pose earlier in the week. It was a pose I’ve done for many months and even though I’ve managed thought it, my form and grace could have been much better. Then this week, just like magic; I was doing the pose with ease. Queue the confetti…it was a little victory for my soul.

Recently, I was asked to speak about mindfulness for a local rotary club. I was both honored and excited to be able to share ideas with them. In preparing my presentation I wanted to make it interesting and valuable of their time. As the members entered the room and began to settle in I noticed the number of men that filed in. I was pleasantly surprised at the volume. For some reason I thought the majority would be women but that wasn’t the case. The men attendees were as much as the women, if not a little more.

I’ve been keeping a dream journal since spring of last year. I don’t always jot them down for a couple of reasons: 1) I wait too long and don’t remember or 2) so many crazy things happen I don’t know where to begin. The latter has happened quite frequently and I find myself shaking my head in complete wonder. Wondering, what could the most random, off the wall, doesn’t make a bit of sense, events possibly mean?

This year it came about two months early. Seriously?! At first I kept ignoring the word since there were still a few months left in the year and I loved my word for 2019…..joy. I used it to guide my actions; always looking for ways joy could make by days brighter. Even if things weren’t going as planned I always tried to look for the silver lining; ultimately things automatically improved just from a little shift in my thinking.

I’m embarrassed to say but didn’t get out of my pajamas for three days……..YIKES! Truth be told I love when that happens. Day one, I got out of bed and headed directly to the dining room table. Making sure to get up to move from time to time in order to avoid being stiff. Hour after hour finishing sections, sending emails, receiving replies, writing this, creating that……on and on. The good news…..by the end of the day, I was already dressed for bed, no extra effort was needed…HAHA!

Happy, shiny, infinite possibilities of another new year and new decade. It’s hard to believe another twelve months have flown by. For the last several years, I’ve gotten quiet, listened to my heart, picked my word of the new year and set intentions and goals for the next 12 months. Not necessarily a new year’s resolution, but a plan for what I want to create and manifest in my life.

It's hard to believe the end of another year is just around the corner and within a few short days it'll be the end of 2019 and the start of a new year and new decade. As you look back and reflect on the year, what comes to mind? What's been most important to you?