If you hadn’t noticed, we’re hurtling towards a new decade. The new ’20’s will be upon us quicker than a November snow (or, if you’re lucky, an October snow).
Beginnings and endings have always held a special place in my heart; that’s why I’m so enthusiastic about all of my new year’s resolutions. You can start anytime — I know this — but somehow the universal clean slate imbues me with motivation that oftentimes takes long coffee breaks during the rest of the year.
And so this ending — the twenty-teens — feels like an on-ramp to something even bigger than just a new year. And makes me think that perhaps, like all good drivers, I should be picking up speed so I can merge like a non-asshat-driver. Hit the new year running, to mix my metaphors.
And now, just two months to go. A mere 61 days (well, call it 60 since it’s already close to bedtime on November 1st). And yet, more than enough time to get moving.
And get moving is what I’m planning on. I had joined Orange Theory Fitness back in May and was doing great before life derailed with the unexpected death of my older brother, Jim. Getting back into that habit will not only be good physically, but also psychologically.
While I’m adding that back to my life, I’m also subtracting — sugar in all of it’s goodness and wonder. I’ve got a sweet tooth the size of Montana and now that Halloween is over, it’s time to start curbing it. Not removing it from my life entirely, but I’m guessing I don’t need to have a candy corn pre-breakfast snack. Stuff like that.
The turning of this year will be momentous for me in other ways, too — in March, I’ll be 50. 50!! It hasn’t happened yet, but I’m still wondering how it snuck up on me. I’ve enjoyed my late 40’s as I’ve become much better at giving few fucks about a lot of different things — one of the many ways that age and wisdom start going together, ya know?
In the end, though, this is all about intention and being mindful. Am I doing the things I want to be doing? Am I numbing by doing nothing but scrolling or watching TV? Am I simply avoiding the hard things because they’re, well, hard?
The end is nigh, folks. Time is short. And the fun part? You never know how short it might be. Maybe I’m at the halfway point of my life. Perhaps it’s something less than that. I’ll do what I can to make it the former rather than the latter, but it’s in the universe’s hands.