As I walk into 2024, I feel like my hair is on fire and I have no plan for how to extinguish the flame. There is no fire extinguisher or water readily available, and the fire has gotten out of control. Clearly, the remnants of 2023 are following me into the new year, which—I suppose—is to be expected, though it’s not exactly welcome news. I was hoping to put the past year far behind me and move cleanly into 2024.
The fire started as a slow burn at some point early in the year. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment in time, but I know it was early. Sparks flickering in the darkness ignited a tiny flame. And the “best-way-to-cook-a-frog” thing became my life. The tiny little flame was warm at first, and I could hold my hands out to warm them. My toes too. But then slowly, the heat started to rise and all hell broke loose.
Now I’m going to say, I typically use writing to help me figure out my life and maintain balance. But in 2023, I wasn’t able to write much. Attempts at writing were derailed by a brain that couldn’t shut out the noise of the world long enough to slip into the silence necessary for creative thought to flow. Reports for work, a focus on health, and an unexpected need to transition to a new position all held the foreground as wars, political bickering, and the world’s intense focus on destruction rather than civil discourse, conversation, and compromise held a constant roar in the background. It was a tough year for creatives and anyone who leans toward sensitivity. And anyone concerned about humanity. I am leaving the year feeling battered and bruised and somewhat worse for wear. I’m concerned about the future and happy to team up with anyone who’s feeling the same. Maybe we can create a support network—to talk, to coach each other, and to cry together if that’s what it takes.
This year, at least initially, my focus will be on calm—calm energy, calm activities, calm people. It will be a good change—call it the calm after the storm. I need to tap into the calm that allows for creativity and writing and thinking and growth. I need to focus on both inner and outer peace. I have a plan in place to start me out in the right direction, though we all know how plans go. Sometimes smoothly, most often awry. But it’s a start.
And so, I’ll work on finally putting out last year’s fire so I can move forward. I’ll build the structure necessary to keep writing and to stay on track. Hopefully this year, I won’t be derailed.
Positively Un-broken 