On moving forward & Week 1 of 52
“My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
I’ve been blogging here on Substack weekly since January of 2023. This platform has been a wonderful place to land and explore (random ideas). I wasn’t sure I could be this consistent for so long. Consistency can be an issue because my energy and attention have often been hard to wrangle. But here we are. 🎉
I appreciate your attention and support. Genuinely.
As such, I invite you to watch curiously or join a year-long challenge with me. It starts now, the third week of May 2024, or whenever you read this. Mark your date accordingly. And before I get to the details, I’ll explain the why behind the challenge.
I was recently elected President of a nonprofit women’s organization affiliated with OSU. This is a huge commitment and one I wasn’t sure I wanted due to the political climate in Ohio (and in general). A strong voice is required for this role (and not just on paper). But, terrified as I am, I’ve resolved that it is the challenge and opportunity I need to explore the value of what it is possible to CREATE and set in motion, despite obstacles.
Every year, the president picks a word/theme. You can probably guess what mine will be (see paragraph above).
Photo by Kerri ShaverSo why did I take this on, especially weeks after writing about burnout?
Well, friends, this brings me to the challenge. I’m rereading A Year to Live by Stephen Levine again. I like to reread this slim exploration every few years and work through its challenge for 365 days/52 weeks. In the book, Levine proposes that we a.) confront and explore our mortality b.) leverage that exploration to help realize/remember how beautiful life is and c.) attempt to live this year as though it were the last.
What’s remarkable about this book, which I’ve written about before, is that it highlights how diverse responses are to terminal illnesses and how much we can change our perspective quickly by remembering the ephemeral nature of life. Some people slow down, others speed up; some travel more, and others spend more time at home gardening. Some gain spiritual practices, and others leave them behind.
I love to remind myself of this because it flies in the face of the idea that to cherish life or get the most out of each day means to live by a particular playbook.
For me, this year is about choosing wisely and choosing what will help me grow. It is about releasing expectations and welcoming what comes. Even the tough stuff, even the impossible stuff. But it’s also about refining my ability to listen within. If you’d like to explore this creatively, check out the writing prompt below. More holistically? Hey, join me!
Writing Prompt:
If you had a year to live, what changes would you make? If you’re writing fiction, how would your character’s perspective change?
AYTL Prompt:
Go on this journey with me. I’ll check in each week at the bottom of the post here. I’m personally beginning today, so it’s Week 1 of 52. This week, I will write a few sentences at the beginning and end of each day to remind myself of this project and self-assess. I invite you to do the same.
Thank you for reading Here we are. This post is public so feel free to share it.
