Yes, it is February, and looking down the steep slope of the new year, a new pair of skis would be welcome right now. Any skis, figurative or otherwise! With this blog wallowing for too long, I’m determined to forge ahead and carve a new trail into my imagined snowy wintertime, and leave an imprint of the path traveled. A path that may melt away come springtime, but mud or dirt, I’ll take that trail and record something of it here.
A handful of things* to keep in mind and practice down the hill:
Skis on.
Re-visit favorite places. Sit awhile.
Pole plant right.
Pay attention to the light.
Pole plant left.
Keep watching.
Lean right, lean left.
Look up.
Look ahead.
Stick together!
Mark the seasons.
Glide. Push. Glide.
Recognize the fruit of good work. Be grateful! Eat ripe fruit. Share fruit. Don’t waste it!
Turn, turn, turn.
Know your neighbors, or get to know them. (These lemons and tomatoes came from our neighbors!)
If you fall, brush off, pick yourself up, and go again.
Find the balance. Keep building, block by block.
Find your balance.
Find independent, like-minded friends. Spend time with them. (Can you see those crows!?)
Keep smiling. Hum to yourself. Skiing is fun!
Know yourself. Be yourself.
Relax. Sit on the lift for awhile.
See the road for what it is. Wide open spaces. Cracks. Horizons. Signposts. Take a road trip.
Take a new trail, from the top again.
Pay attention, keep looking for treasures! They are all around. Enjoy life and live it.
Find a jump and take it. Ski into the trees just a little.
Try something new. Wade in a new river. Or jump in!
Be brave when it gets steep. There is more than one way down a mountain.
Stay warm.
If at all possible, do the work that you love.
Follow the trail.
Be patient.
Skiing takes practice.
Stay in touch with the people you care about. If not in person, call, send a note, or maybe even blog a little! Because the kids grow up too fast.
Just getting to the mountains is good for the soul. Even if you don’t ski. Ski in your mind.
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* A first attempt at getting back to a blog-writing rhythm, just a smattering of photos from 2013-2014 to keep me on track.
Best wishes for 2014!