New Years is just around the corner and in a similar vein to last year, we will again be dogsitting Paavo the dachshund. His owners are going out and since fireworks are legal here a few times a year, it is better not to leave dogs alone, as the explosions kick their PTSD from a past life into gear, and they can panic. Though, Paavo didn't seem to care that much last year, and turned in early, not wanting to celebrate the coming year.
Year changes shouldn't matter and I used to not care much for them at all, but I now see them as more significant than my own birthday. That isn't saying much, as I don't care about my birthday, but my meaning is that the end of year is a more valuable reflection point than any other. Though, "value" in this case shouldn't really matter, because a yearly reflection could be done on any day.
However, I think that it does actually make more sense to do it now, because pretty much most of our lives are aligned with the economy in some way, where for instance, this is the time of year that people will take their holidays. It might originally be due to some religious traditions, but I reckon now, it is more out of financial reasoning.
Like every year, my plan is to get my life into better shape, whether that be personally or interpersonally. I will likely do a reflection of 2024 at some point, but by mid-year, things were looking pretty good, as I was starting to align myself personally and building a foundation for my career in 2025, but it all fell apart in the last three months of the year. If circumstances had been slightly different, 2025 was shaping up to be a pretty good year professionally, which would have been more than welcome. But,
Sliding doors.
It is actually quite fascinating how different things could be if there were slightly different outcomes. For instance five years ago, one of my friends was in a fantastic professional and financial position, having sold one of their businesses, building another two successfully and everything was running smoothly. However, their marriage came to an abrupt end, and the divorce become so messy there could be a movie made about it, and things just fell out of alignment from there. One knock-on problem after another, and they are probably going to lose the last thing they own - at no fault of their own. While I don't always agree with them, no one deserves they way they have been treated.
When it rains, it pours.
And it is hard to come out from under the covers when it is raining heavily, but that is what needs to happen. When everyone else would be seeking shelter, it is time to work in the mud. And I think a lot of people are looking for shelter of some form these days, even if it isn't raining that much in their lives. I reckon that in the past, people were more equipped or the culture was more conducive to overcoming challenge and adversity, because there just wasn't any other option available to survive. It was more "do or die" and now, there are not only more safety nets, but also more places to run to for shelter, even if it is just for psychological safety through avoidance.
The sounds of fireworks are mistaken for falling bombs.
There is a lot of terrible shit going on in our world and many are facing an uphill battle, but like I was saying to a friend that was visiting this evening, own it. We were talking about financial ownership, but it is also taking ownership of all the other challenges we face in our life too, isn't it? Like my other friend who is losing it all, even if it is not their fault, they are the ones who have to live in those conditions. It is their house, like it or not.
It is impossible to avoid challenging situations, because they are based on our experiences. What some find difficult, others might barely struggle with, because they have gone through worse prior. But, it is also not a great way to live to always feel like life is a struggle, that everything is difficult to do, because it is soul-sucking. How long can one keep fighting, when every win is followed by a worse loss?
And this is what we should be looking to mitigate in our planning for the future, right? We can't predict everything, and we know that things aren't all going to go to plan, but we have to have a strategy in place for when it all falls apart. Because the faster we can recover, the more chance we have to improve the conditions. If we dwell for too long, we become that person, stuck in a rut, unable to move on, because unable to let go.
Fuck the rain.
I think that even if the result is drowning in the flood waters, it is better to attempt for higher ground, than just give up and stop trying. Yet I still wonder - how far can I swim?
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Sliding or revolving doors?
New year is just another excuse for people to actually make an effort to get together. Lately I've been feeling that all those holidays and things that we've been conditioned to either be disdainful of because they've become monuments to consumerism or to be deluded that it's somehow all about the most and most expensive presents and the most ostentatious of parties are probably more important now as bond building things.
It is also a very convenient time to be thinking about things and about when most people will do their thinking about things.
This is indeed a good question.
We have my wife's sister coming tonight to spend it with us - the first time other than a Christmas that they will come and visit for an evening. I like simple - we are having hotdogs :D
What are you up to tonight?
That sounds nice :D
My usual new year is even simpler than that, I might have a drink or two (usually not) and I'll stay up drawing (working on very late Christmas pic, should have themed new year but if I don't draw what the head-universe wants it doesn't work) or doing project work til midnight when I'll say happy new year to whoever is still awake (kids usually are, middle is off at a friend's for a new year party so I'll be texting her, and whoever is on discord), then I'll stay up til 1am til it's midnight for sibling dearest and I'll scream happy new year at her and if I"m not half dead by then I'll wait for a response (which could be very soon if she comes back soon after the countdown or longer if she doesn't, they are having a new year party over there).
We haven't done new year gatherings for the better part of forever, J actively refuses as he's a morning lark and likes to be in bed well before midnight and none of our friends have been too interested in hosting either so it's been pretty chill.
The turn of the year is a significant time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. Although circumstances may change and not everything goes as planned, it is important to remain resilient and be prepared to adapt to the unexpected. Difficulties are part of life, but facing them with determination can lead us to a better place. Looking after Paavo during the fireworks and reflecting on the events of the year reminds me that, despite the challenges, it is always possible to find a way forward and improve.
I wish you and your family a year full of blessings where health and abundance reign in your home.
Have a good end of this and start to the next year mate :)
Will you do any more reflection yourself?
Years change does not matter to me anymore as I feel that a year passes by like a month does :) Since pandemic, I think that I shouldn't make too many long-term plans because things can change or break down swiftly in this life.
They have won. The biggest trick is to stop people planning for the future, and living (spending) now.
Honestly, the way things are going these days I think we should all just be happy to have made it through the year. It might be more apt to just breathe a sigh of relief versus actually reflecting on things. I'm half kidding of course. Reflection is always good, but then again, so is surviving!
Survival shouldn't be the goal of life though, should it?
Absolutely not, but this world makes it hard lately!
You can swim as far as you need to. Period.
As far as I can, perhaps :)
lol if you start floundering, we'll have to poke you in the ass with a sharp stick!
lolol - perhaps that is why some people flounder!
lol you're right
Life is full of surprises. Anything can happen at any moment. Our bad life may improve for a moment, while our good life may deteriorate. The important thing is to get rid of this or reach a better position by applying new strategies without being affected by these.
Everything is in a state of flux, but the goal is to improve the average, right?
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Challenging situations can be tough at times but striving for a change is also that matters. I have been pondering on your last question " how far can I swim?" For now I don't have an answer but I will definitely use it as a watch word