JANUARY 2024: Past or Future Focused?

What’s Your Relationship with Time?

I have become keenly aware that I think more about my future than about my past. I’m committed to someone who thinks more about the past than the future. This leads to interesting conversations.

I don’t believe that there’s a ‘right’ way to be in relationship with time. Yet, it’s worthwhile to figure out which way you think about time. Which perspective do you prefer to focus on? How can you balance it out?

I make myself recap each year. It’s a slog – but useful for me to do. I consider what I had control over and what was outside of my control. This leads me to ponder how I will handle similar obstacles in my future. It’s important to learn what we can from the past. Or ‘herstory’ can repeat herself.

I’d much rather turn my gaze to the future and dream about the things I’m planning to do. It’s just the way my brain works. It’s easy for me and I enjoy the creative process. I think about what I want to happen and create it within my budget.

It’s no surprise that I’ve been thinking about 2024. One of my goals is to find another Writing Retreat. I started to investigate the places I could go to in Ontario and then I remembered that a friend is going on an extended vacation. I love her home and sense of décor.

I asked if I could stay at her home for a week to write. She encouraged me to do it. The new surroundings will help me focus on writing my book. Fewer distractions. It may even be safer for her home to have some activity while she’s away. Thank goodness for dear friends.

I’m also ready to spread my wings and visit friends far and wide. Using public transportation and making these visits happen on a budget is a challenge that I enjoy. Life feels like a puzzle and I get to create the picture I’m aiming to complete.

Remember that everything is created twice -once in our imagination and then in our reality. I make my plans and imagine the pathways and then break each plan down into manageable steps. I don’t get overwhelmed when I focus on one step at a time. It’s fun to watch my goals/plans take shape.

Let me know if you have a specific goal that you can’t figure out how to accomplish. We can create a plan to brainstorm (on Zoom) to find out if we can come up with a plan that pleases you!

P.S. I’ve invited a dear friend to meet the guests of our January 17th event. I met Razie through our volunteer work in 2016. I often tell her that I want to ‘be like you when I grow up’. I wrote about her in an older blog post on the Spoken Lives website. September 2020. Razie continues to inspire me and her zest for life continues to shape who I am becoming.

Each of the speakers has this spark. But they are decades younger than Razie. They have faced challenges head on! Suzen Fromstein and Melissa Mackenzie will let you know how they found the funny in dealing with significant health challenges. Sunny Wishart will share her story of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Lorie Gelsheimer has an important story about dealing with her son’s addiction in a new way that has had significant results. There are 14 tickets left. Ticket link.

Thank you for reading my lingering thoughts. Please let me know what’s on your mind and let’s continue the conversation.

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