Nine days into the New Year… how’s it going so far? I came into the New Year with a new attitude to how I live my life. I wanted to be more focused, so that whatever I did, fed into my goals for the year, for my life, but in a simple way. I wanted to do little things which mattered, whenever possible. This includes basic things including household tasks and shopping to more meaningful things: kind words, positive gestures, gifting presence and listening skills.
I love my husband and family very much, I have a few friends whom I cherish, and I adore my fur babies; often however I am so busy, I see far less of them than I would like. I have a tendency towards being a chatterbox, especially when I am ‘full of beans’ and I have realised more and more than I don’t always listen. My husband can ask me to do something and two minutes later I have forgotten what it was. We both assume that my memory is not so great, but I truly believe that sometimes I just don’t listen properly. I also believe that this is common in our busy world.
My first goal for the New Year then, is to ‘enjoy time with family and friends’. This means quality time, and during conversation listening to what is being said. For the first nine days of the year so far I have managed:
1. Visiting and chatting for some time with one of my yoga teachers, not seen for many months
2. Taking my mum and recently widowed aunt to the cinema (Mary Poppins Returns), and for a late lunch
3. Spending the day with my husband at a vintage market and eating a delicious Sunday roast in a lovely restaurant
4. Meeting with one of my oldest friends (and ex dancing partner) for a lovely belated birthday meal (for her) at a delicious Turkish restaurant, with lots of chatting
5. Returning to dance classes with my dad – I took a break while doing my doctorate some years ago, and I missed it so much.
Tomorrow my husband and I are going to the theatre and at the weekend friends are coming to our home for an afternoon cream tea.
This pace won’t continue for the rest of the year, it would be too exhausting, but I am determined to make an effort to connect with people in my life. I have to remember though that being autistic, overload can hit quickly if I keep my life too active, so balance is needed. Of course I also need to leave room for my other goals for the year as well. I never make resolutions, simply goals to keep me on track and ensure I don’t waste what is a precious life. More about these coming up soon…
My husband is due home any time from an evening of teaching… so I am shortly to leave you, so that we can catch up and spend some quality time together.
Let me know what your goals are, and how you connect with others. What is important to you?
Until next time…
Sensing The Simple Life 