I have actually started a few new journaling methods this year, and I have the highest hopes that at least one will continue until the end of the year. One journal asks the same question each day for five years so you can see how your responses change at various times in your life.
January 1- ‘What’s you mission?’ I almost quit day one. I ended up cheating instead and writing two missions, one which I will share and the other, well, I’ll leave you guessing.
Mission #2 to live, savor, and embrace the small moments in life.
Once the year turned to 2017 people in my community started to realize that I only have eight months left here, and they started to get sappy, as sappy as Ngobes can be. I decided to make one of my missions something I wanted to especially focus on while I am living the rest of my time here in Panama, but have it also be something I can continue to work towards once I have returned.
I want to live the small moments in life. To get up, get out, explore. Don’t just watch them happen. I have a bad habit about making a check list for everything: people I need to see, places I need/want to go, things I need/should do and so on. I blame it on my Pop’s genes because he is a devoted list maker as well (sorry, Pop!). However, I am finding for me that having life being ruled by a check list takes some of the meaning from the moment because I don’t know if I actually was in it for the experience, for the memory, or just for the satisfaction of another check. And as we all learn, the most memorable moments are the ones that weren’t on the list to start.
I want to savor the small moments in life. I want to be present, engaged, and intentional with them. With family. Activities with friends. Nature. Food. As E.B. White says in one of my journals, “We must always be on the lookout for wonder.” I want to remember to look up when no one else is looking and see those unexpected, savory moments of wonder that are passing right before my eyes.
Most of all, I want to embrace the small moments in life. Smile. Laugh. Embrace it all. Smile at that first slurp of a milkshake or bite of a delicious meal. Smile when I notice the birds chirping on a sunny day. Smile at the grandpa who I saw fixing his grandson’s zipper on his pants when I looked up for a moment and I was the only one watching. Deep breaths. And smile a little more. I want to embrace this moment, and this one, and all of the others ones that usually pass by without a second thought that will instantly be left only for my memories.
I know it’s not going to be easy. I did name it New Year’s Challenge after all. I’m going to fail sometimes, many times. I’m going to drink a milkshake too fast without appreciating the flavor or that first cold slurp. I’ll yell at the birds chirping that might have woken me up. I’ll probably even have my head down looking at my phone instead of the incredible life around me. But I have confidence that I can start, that I can try. Today I’ll live and play baseball with the kids instead of watching. Tomorrow I’ll savor the hammock time with Paty under the stars. Soon, Ill smile at the first blossoms that will bring delicious fruit next to my house. One small moment at a time. One unexpected smile at a time. Live the moment. Savor it. Embrace it. Do this, and you have already participated in my New Year’s Challenge as well. Congratulations! Now for you own New Year’s Resolutions…