Happy New Year! Do you, like me, remember when the year 2000 seemed to be so far off still? I remember thinking very clearly, sitting at my desk in Carroll High School: In 2000, I'll be 26! It is now 2013, the year I will turn 39, and I could swear I was sitting in that desk just last week. Well, except that there have been a few things in between - college, my first time living in Washington, DC, a grad school and New York City, a career, marriage, a child, then another, and now more grad school plus kids plus marriage plus career all at once! Does live seem to be getting fuller every year, or is that just me?
My mantra this year will be: Today is all we really have. How am I living my life today?
I've come to realize I spend a good deal of my time worrying about the future and not nearly enough time enjoying the present. It's no way to live really. Always planning the next hour, day, week, month, year, life - so that you miss what your four old is saying about his Legos that is really really REALLY important right now, or you don't enjoy the humor of your 22 month old cramming his stuffed doggy head-first into the training potty and slamming the lid on him, back paws desperately left hanging out in a plea for help. So, I'm resolved, Spirit of the New Year, 2013 is the year of the now!
But before I jump into my constant state of living in the moment Zen nowness, some reflections from life in 2012:
1. Paul Stares is right. He's right about a lot of things. He works at the Council on Foreign Relations leading their Conflict Prevention program and I respect so much of what he says and writes. But the thing he was most right about was the email he sent me after I had Santi, a second boy. He said that having two boys (as he does) would test every conflict prevention and resolution skill I had. Boy was he right. Pablo and Santi love each other dearly and this year also learned to fight!
2. Living apart sucks. But its somehow ok. Alberto has been living and working in Mexico now for over 8 months. It is not a situation I would recommend to any family, but somehow we've managed it and we're doing ok. Love has no borders.
3. I love school. Going back to school has been great. I love the time to think and talk and read and write that academia offers, without the pressure of do-do-do, that policy work demands. Don't get me wrong, I'm doing way more that I should be, but feeling like reading and reflecting is part of what I'm suppose to be doing right now is really nice.
4. I am totally addicted to coffee and should really give it up. But I won't.
5. Nothing is more important than family. This is like a "yeah, duh, Bridget!" one, but you know, there are some years that you remember it better than others. I love you, family.
6. Single parents are my heroes. I cannot believe how hard single parenting is, and how many people - including my own parents - manage it with love and patience.
7. If we don't do something about climate change we're all utterly screwed. We may already be. Really, people, can we not do better than this?
8. I really don't like politics. Policy, yes, but spare me the politics. Here's my confession: I didn't watch a single minute of the presidential debates.
9. Every year, month, week, day, hour, moment with your children is a remarkable, miraculous gift.
Ok, that's it for deep thoughts about the past and future. Back to living in the moment.
Now, just where did I leave my coffee...
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