I love celebrating the New Year. It always seems to bring such a feeling of optimism and newness along with it. After the often manic time of Christmas, it feels good to take a breath, relax a little, and enjoy a slower pace of life, snuggled under a cosy blanket and reading a book. But while I do enjoy the downtime that winter brings, I am excited to see what the future holds and how the year will unfold.
So Many Possibilities!
It has to be said that I am not the greatest long-term planner, preferring to let life unfold in any way it chooses, but I do like to write down a few short-, medium- and long-term goals that I hope to achieve at some point in the year. The excitement and thrill of a new year makes anything seem possible and one of my greatest pleasures is thinking through all the possibilities if I do this…. or that :).
One Goal: Learning to Meditate
At the beginning of this year, one of my goals was to understand meditation. I thought if people travel all the way to India to learn how to do it, there must be something difficult to learn. My first attempts at meditating were around age 18; the same time as the Beatles were into it! I tried and I tried but I just couldn’t do it. I would sit for hours on my bedroom floor, eyes closed in a typical meditation pose. But nothing. Zero.
This year, I have spent a few months staying in a Buddhist Monastery. Very early each morning we would go to puja (prayers) in the temple where we would chant and then have meditation. I would try mantras, visualisation, breathing techniques, being present, but nothing worked. I had to accept that it was too difficult and too complicated for me… only it wasn’t. A few weeks ago, I had the most amazing meditation, turns out it is as simple as letting go.
Goal #2: Cold-Water Swimming
Another thing on my list was cold-water swimming. In fact, I swam in the sea on New Year’s Day. I had heard about the many physical and emotional benefits of it, but I couldn’t work out how being freezing could be beneficial. But oh, it is incredible! At first you are cold, really cold. And then this beautiful warm feeling (a bit like rubbing deep heat cream on your body) comes all over you, even in your mind. How crazy is that!
Another Goal Accomplished: Letting Go
My final thing was to let go of things that were of no benefit to me. This includes emotional and physical things such as negative thoughts and beliefs, as well as material things that I no longer wanted or needed. This is so cathartic, and the best bit is that it frees up space for things you do want in your life!
What About 2025?
So here I am, pondering my goals for 2025. What to do?
After an accident last year, I was unable to walk very well for many months and have only just started going for long (ok, medium!) walks. I am loving it! Not only is my stamina much better, I have even lost a few pounds, but somehow it seems to have made my pelvic floor stronger, so I am not waking up so much in the night. It is also great for my mental wellbeing as I am more of a leisure-walker, and enjoy spending time in nature. So, one of my goals is to continue this practice.
I have also started to go to a few more live performances which I really enjoy. Most of the ones I have been to recently have been regarding music, but I hope to include recitals, talks, plays, sports. Not only do you have a great time, but you meet new and interesting people.
The older I get, the more I see the opportunities that are out there, and there is still so much I want to do. Of course, age and the frailties that come with it limit me a little, but there is still a whole galaxy of possibilities. At the time of writing this I have three weeks left to choose! 🙂
Join the Conversation:
Does the new year energise and excite you? Do you have goals for the upcoming year? Did you set yourself goals for this year?
