Monday, January 6, 2014

Lighten Up......My Theme For 2014!

Couldn't Resist One More Christmas Picture!
Our Living Room (Can't Believe I Didn't Turn the Fire On)

Although I have always been extremely goal-oriented with an ongoing list of written goals for which I am striving, I've never been one for making New Years resolutions.  I have, however, always loved having "themes" or "mantras" if (and ONLY if) something came to me without much effort.  If I had to think about it or work hard to come up with something, it always seemed forced.  2013 never had much of a theme for me and to be honest, it was a year of struggle almost from the beginning.  I didn't feel well much of the year, wasn't able to hike a lot because of that and although I kept my weight fairly steady, there wasn't much joy in the process. We didn't travel much and I missed that.  Bill was already feeling "tired" and we might should've suspected something was amiss even though he'd checked out perfectly at his annual physical.  Then halfway through the year, my life snowballed, first with the quick decision to buy the condo, our move and then finally, the total shock of Bill's cancer diagnosis.  Looking back over the year, about the only word I can come up with to describe it is chaos.  Yet I find myself looking back over it with gratitude for lessons learned.

As the year drew to a close, I found myself saying one thing to myself over and over at the strangest times over the weirdest things.  In one of those light-bulb moments, I realized that "lighten up" was going to my "theme" for 2014.  During the long, dark days of Bill's chemo treatments when he was so sick, my thoughts often turned to how often I stress over things which all of a sudden became very unimportant.  My needs and wants became very simple.  In fact, I only had one.  "Please make my husband well."  How much I weighed, what I ate, whether or not I ate sugar, how much money we had, where it was invested, when we would retire, where we'd travel next year, what I was going to wear to my niece's wedding, why the tire pressure light was on in my car, whether I had 10,000 steps that day or not, why wouldn't our house sell, yada, yada, yada.....you get the picture!  Sadly, I could go on and on and on.  Many times I'd come out of a fog, shake my head and just simply say to myself, "lighten up!"

As time went on and there began to be better days for Bill, I'd start thinking those same thoughts with a bit more clarity.  You see, I do believe all those things are important and life does require us to live responsibly and plan for our futures.  But I also believe that for me, personally, way too much time, energy and effort was being put into some of those things when it could be much better used elsewhere.  Some of those things were coming between me, my relationships with others and even more importantly, my ability to love others unconditionally.  

So this year is going to be my year to "lighten up!"  My mind is swirling with ideas that will be challenging, but combined with other things happening in my/our life, will also (if properly and sacrificially applied) make me a better person.  Over the next several posts, I'm going to break down some of the areas in which I intend to "lighten up" and share my thoughts with you in the hopes that you'll have some ideas to share with me in return.  I'm excited and ready to write!


23 comments:

  1. Oh heavens, Sharon. You could have written this post especially for me to read and take note!
    You wrote:
    "... for me, personally, way too much time, energy and effort was being put into some of those things when it could be much better used elsewhere. Some of those things were coming between me, my relationships with others and even more importantly, my ability to love others unconditionally."
    This resonates SO strongly for me, and I see that I've been guilty of stressing things that really don't matter that much at all.
    I need to think about lightening up too.
    Thanks for this.

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  2. Sharon,
    Your honesty is certainly something to be proud of. Lighten Up sounds like good advise for everyone, looking forward to reading your posts.
    Light and Peace ~
    Linda

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  3. Stay positive and look at the bright side. You rdoing ok the pair of you so keep it up

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  4. Really a wonderful post Sharon and wise words for us all. Life is a learning experience and some, like you, do it very well. It helps so much to find something of permanent good coming out of tragedy. Hope this year is a wonderful one for you both.

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  5. I love this post, Sharon. Very wise and relevant for us all for different reasons. Your words brought to mind the notion of how PERSPECTIVE is everything. When you spoke of your awareness during Bill's chemo of how you used to stress over things that suddenly seemed minor compared to the reality of what you were facing during that time, it rang a gong in my head! I think of you often and will be holding you both in prayer and positive thoughts tomorrow when you go for the PET results. Hugs to you.

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  6. Very good idea. I look forward to your further thoughts, and maybe I'll have some too.

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  7. Looks like a great goal to me! And I'm not just saying that because it's something I'm also working on. :)

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  8. In light of all you've been through this past year, I think you deserve a happier 2014. And I like your positive mantra.

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  9. Have you read "The Happiness Project"? Very interesting book about working to make time for discovering what brings us happiness. The author learned a lot in the process. Too much time to think here in the subzero temps, I just got a call that work is cancelled for today. -30 windchill, you know!

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  10. You were certainly hit hard this past year with the "what's really important in life" message. I look forward to your swirling thoughts in the weeks ahead!

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  11. Looking forward to your upcoming posts on areas in which you want to "lighten up"! 2013...shoo, what a year for you guys. Love your new living room though! And I hope today you have that fire place on ;)

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  12. Great idea. I've thought about this concept although not using those words about my own approach to life and my perfectionism. I"ll be interested in the wisdom in the next few posts. I just might ride your coattails on this one.
    Lori

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  13. Happy New Year, Sharon. I like your theme of lighten up and agree that we often put too much emphasis on things that are really not important. I do not know you in person, so this may seem weird, but what you have gone through with Bill hit me to the core and contributed to my own ruminations about what is really important. Life is very short, and you reminded me about my own misplaced priorities of sweating the small stuff. I am not free of it all, but, I am much lighter myself! Michele

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  14. What a great blog. Lightening up is a good idea for many of us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate you sharing the lessons you are learning.

    Judy

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  15. Sometimes we get so focused on the minutia that you forget what the truly important stuff is. Thanks for sharing all this with us, Sharon.

    And your fireplace is gorgeous!

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  16. After the year you all have had, "Lighten Up" is a perfect theme. One never knows what any given year will present, does it???? BUT--you tow made it through the hard part ---so hopefully this will be a year when you both can find that JOY again and relax and just enjoy life...

    Cold here this morning---MINUS 10 on our deck. But it's warming up nicely. YEAH.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  17. I really appreciate this message Sharon, and I know that one big area in my life where I need to lighten us is with other people. I set high standards for myself and others, and I'm too quick to dismiss those that I deem as falling short. So in 2014 I'm trying to take people as they are, warts and all.

    I know 2014 will start off with some significant physical challenges for your husband and you, but hopefully, hopefully you both will quickly move ahead and return to a brighter place.

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  18. This is such an important message. I think, all too often, we get caught up in the little things and in the grand scheme of things, they ARE little things. I think it's a great phrase for the new year!

    P.S. Just found your blog and love it!

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  19. Your theme of Lighten Up is ideal for you in 2014 and I can tell you are already using it. Your dh's illness put everything else in perspective, that is for sure. Have a blessed year.

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  20. What a perfect mantra for this year! We can all benefit from this message. I am a terrible worrier even though I know it is a huge waste of energy and time. Wishing you and Bill a very happy and healthy new year!

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  21. Big HUGE hugs...

    And that unconditional love thing? Yeah...that. I so get that. Here's to an amazing and healthy and light 2014!

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