That Year That Went...

Ever have one of those years that begins with great intentions of things that will get done (finally) before the year wraps up?

This was the year when I would actually hit the mark on publishing two blog posts per month as a way to nurture the writing that will lead – at last – to the long-planned novel.

This was the year that would be measured in gains of strength and endurance to ensure I could travel with my far-flung college friends in their jaunts about the globe.

This was the year when I would complete the photo arranging project begun at the start of the COVID lock down that covers two-thirds of my project table in the office.

And here I sit in September of this year, writing the first blog post to appear on Stunning In Silver.

How does this happen? How do days that begin with great promise of plenty of productive time devolve into busyness that is exhaustingly non-productive?

How do weeks and months just fly along with those boxes of photos gathering dust on the table?

I do know what happened to the intended gains in strength and endurance. The hip that I thought was just sore from a frozen flexor turns out to need a replacement due to rampant arthritis. I had no idea I had arthritis until a truly compassionate surgeon said, “Gosh, this must be incredibly painful. How are you walking?” Not well, is the answer. At least there, I have a plan.

But back to the speed of time.

We’re in our reflective season – the Jewish New Year and all of its rituals are focused on reviewing the actions of the year completed, with great resolve to do better, be better, in the quest to make our world a better place to live.

This year I’m struggling with how to do and be better when I can’t seem to hold on to my intentions with time. I want to spend more time with my friends. I value any time with my family. Am I focusing enough time on the PT and nutrition needed to prepare for surgery?

Where does the time go?

Clare did teach me how to use Instagram this year. That’s a problem. There are my Wordle, Quordle, Octordle games with friends. I’ve started reading again – turns out I can focus when I’m not concerned the pandemic will end life as we know it.

So maybe it’s not such a mystery after all.