How Does This Year Feel So Far?
Someday, if I am lucky enough to have a houseful of kids and soccer practice to take them to, I will look back at my current Saturday morning routine and have a rip-roaring laugh. Here’s how it goes: I like to drink a cup of coffee in bed, read a bit, and give myself a tarot reading. It’s a morning tradition that can take upwards of two long, lazy hours. And then I ask my husband where he’s taking me for lunch, and look at that––it’s 3pm.
(Now, a word on the tarot for anyone who might want to hear it: I don’t think of it as some predictive, lady-with-a-crystal-ball-and-a-head-scarf hokum. It’s more like reading a really rich, wonderful piece of literature (although any formalist professor of mine would probably die to hear me say this): there are themes in the cards, and the way you choose to interpret and reflect on those themes creates a meaningful story. In other words, you make the meaning.)
In any case, the cards painted a picture in their yellows and reds that I was happy to see. It was a story of assessment and survey that I thought was worth sharing with a thoughtful, reflective bunch. In short form, we have made it halfway through the year: how are you doing?
There are two parts to the mid-year check-in as I see it: How are you doing with those goals you made seven months ago? (Oh, how they can be embarrassing to revisit, I know.) Do they need a little more attention? But perhaps more importantly, how are you moving through this year? How does it feel to be you alive at this moment? Are your actions matching up with what you care about? Are you embodying whatever word resonated with you?
I, for one, needed the reminder. When we’re intently focused on taking the next step, we forget to lift our eyes to the horizon and survey the landscape. We can get so caught up in walking a straight path that we forget to even check-in with ourselves: Do I even like this walk? Am I tired? Do I need a sip of water and some trail mix? Or am I fully caught up in the flow? It gives us the chance to ease what might not feel right or to apply more passion to what we’ve let slip.
One thing I know: I’m not writing here enough, and it breaks my heart. I needed the reminder that I was in control of that, and so my alarm got set a little earlier. (Though I’m still never this happy to wake up.)
What I needed was a long pause, time to sit on a rock with my sunglasses and a canteen and look at where I’ve gotten myself. I’m not even sure if the route needs adjustment yet, but I do know that I’d like to take the time to survey the view.
Do you have a tradition of stopping to reflect like this? How do you create that time and space for yourself? And what adjustments have you made after taking the long view?
Claire: My word for the new year was “intention” — and it seems to come and go. I feel like 2011 has been oddly rough and tumble — when I’m on, I’m on, and when I’m off, I’m sooooo off. What I’ve found is the more mini-vacations I take, the more balanced I am and the more focused I can be on living my life with intention. It’s that necessary recharge and check-in time, because routine disappears. It is during these times that I have clearer vision for both my inner/outer lives.
Thank you for giving me something to think about this morning and for a jumping-off point to get back into my own blogging. You are always a beautiful inspiration!42 weeks ago
Oh, Claire! How lovely of you to say that.
The idea of mini-vacations is so great! I always think that stay-at-home weekends are going to be more restorative than they are. I love the idea of trying to build in more time to step away from the day-to-day. That always seems to give me such better perspective on things.42 weeks ago
Margarita: I’ve never done a tarot reading before but have always been interested in it. Relish your child-less days while you can
42 weeks ago
Amy --- Just A Titch: I am a big fan of the mid-year check-in (especially because I go back to work next week). I feel like the year is…on track? Mostly? I may not have done everything I set out to do, but other things are super on track, which feels better. Does that make sense?
Also, I’m super jealous of your tarot routine—I love things like that.42 weeks ago
Sarah R: So far this year has been much, much better than the last, and I feel like I’m personally coming out of a long tunnel and to a place where I can step up and have the life I want to have. It’s been a very busy half-year with a move cross-country, and all the adjustments that come from moving from a small city to a large metropolitan area. I can’t remember if I made any kinds of goals at the beginning of the year (I was in a huge depression) but checking in now, I can see that progress is being made OUT of that funk and TOWARD who and what I want to be. It’s very encouraging.42 weeks ago
Margarita, Trying! And if you’re curious, just buy a deck and this great book and you’re set.
Amy, Feeling on track? Yeah, that makes total sense, and is a wonderful feeling. My check-in revealed that I had kind of lost my way a bit, so it felt good to catch that before I wound up in the weeds.
Sarah R, Your mid-year check-in is so inspiring! And yeah, just from what you shared sounds wonderfully brave and on the up-tick!42 weeks ago
jiji: What a lovely post! I had my tarot cards read to me once during a period of extreme stress and grief. The reader made me feel like everything was okay. And I guess I must’ve known it was going to be alright since I picked the cards
Fast forward a couple of years later and I find myself in another stressful situation. But maybe I can “choose” how the journey will end. You can choose to remain positive and keep your head up. And when you are confident enough to steer your path, life will align itself with you. I hope!
ps I adore your blog. You are always so giving with your thoughtful and inspiring posts. So thank you for that. xoxo42 weeks ago
Tami -- Teacher Goes Back to School: On December 1st I posted my word for 2011 –
Transformation
I said, “By this time next year, I hope to have become a parent.”
As of today, we have about 5 weeks until we pick up our daughter in Taiwan. Guess giving up the dream of adopting from Thailand to instead adopt from Taiwan is paying off.
I’m also (due to picking up Ruby in August instead of December) transitioning from a full time public school teacher to full time first time mom and part time marketing person for my yoga studio.
Clearly a lot of change in my little world!42 weeks ago
Jessica: My birthday is at the end of June, so I do a mid-year check-in at that time. When I still lived in California, a dear friend there had her birthday two days before mine. We always went to the beach on the day between our birthdays to reflect together. I miss that.
My word for the year is Enjoy. At the beginning of the year, it really helped me be more present. Recently, I’ve been letting bad habits (procrastination) suck the joy out of my life. Working on changing that and also enjoying what is rather than being so hard on myself.42 weeks ago
Kaitlin @ Montgomery Minimalist: I’m a public-school teacher, so I’m lucky in that I get a built-in mid-year break. My fiancee is still working during the summer, so I have a lot of time to myself to relax, read, and reflect. My word for this year was “balance,” and I’ve felt like I’ve lost focus in certain aspects of my life–nurturing my creative side, keeping track of my finances, etc. Since school starts again next week, I’m trying to put the changes I want to see in place so that I can start the school year refreshed and ready.42 weeks ago
jiji, Thank you so much for your sweet compliment! I’m glad it’s seems giving, but truly it is my natural curiosity that wants to know what others are thinking about and how you all ‘make it work.’ I was recently complaining to a friend about some things that I felt were out of my control, and she reminded me to focus on the aspects that are within my control: communication, self-care. Thank you for the added reminder!
Tami, Your comment made me cry. I am so unbelievably over-the-moon happy for my internet friend! How wonderous!
Jessica, What a lovely tradition you had with your friend to take time out together! I love that. And I love that your word for the year was “enjoy.” What a worthy–oft-forgotten–goal.
Kaitlin, How awesome to have that time to yourself in the summer, and I’m rooting for you to feel like you’re in a solid, balanced place when the new year kicks off.42 weeks ago
Suzy: OMG! Anne freakin’ Fadiman was one of your profs??!!!! I love her!!!42 weeks ago
OMG, no! Definitely not! Hahaha. I just thought that was a great essay on interpretation and how we read.42 weeks ago
Carrie: Love the idea of a weekend tarot reading! I may have to pick up the book you recommended and some cards. Which cards do you have? They look very pretty!42 weeks ago