A Full Moon Week

Week 147 – January 7, 2023 – The Ups and Downs

You can’t write this stuff… meaning… I could not anticipate what the new year would bring. So much has happened within one week that I’m not surprised that the week ended on Friday, January 6, 2023 with a full moon. Whew. I need a moment to unpack some of the ups and downs of the week. And yes, it’s still a #pandemicreflection.

Hello… it’s 2 days later and I have returned to my blog. Woohoo. And, guess what? I am ok with that. I can only do one thing at a time and I am not less of a person. I am still worthy. What a strange thing to say, but that pretty much summarizes my 2022 journey. I learned that I am worthy and I have something of value to contribute.

Admittedly, my first week back to work has been filled with ups and downs. I took the winter break to rest and rejuvenate. I could finally be at a place where I took the time to take care of myself. I was eating better and I started walking again. Now that I’m back at work, my stress is up, I’m not sleeping, and my eating habits have eroded.

I had to catch myself. Thank god I noticed. I was triggered this week and my values were provoked and tampered with. What hill was I going to die on? How vulnerable can I be? I was also vulnerable with my grad class, then super tired for my undergrad classes. My performance and responsiveness were inevitably MEH. Didn’t feel good.

Friday, January 6, 2023, the day of the full moon… the dust started to settle again. Oh my… the virtues of patience, trust, and compassion. They were in full force that day. I slept well. I had a good class. I had an excellent meeting. And, I got news that day that declares the end of one chapter of my life, thus the beginning of another chapter.

We did lose our curling game 1-10 in 6-ends, but it felt good to get back out on the ice, to play with my team, and to connect with others after the game. It was a good day to end my Friday. I was alert enough to stay up to pick up my kid from work at 11pm, and I took advantage of “Sleeping In on Saturdays.” That will be a thing, for sure.

My eating is back on track. I went out for a walk on Saturday. And, I went out for dinner with a friend. I have mastered what it means to rest on Saturdays then I try to transition back to work on Sunday. Working on Sundays is something I’m learning how to do better, but I do need to spend some time on Sunday to plan the week.

Whew. I did not expect to be delving into my week that I did. I have things to notice. My #OneWord2023 is READ. I am reading the situation and taking what I see, feel, and experience at face value. It’s actually happening and I am the only one who can take control of me. Part of that is also reading papers, proposals, and textbooks.

I can see how this year is beginning and how I am reacting. A beautiful friend said to me today is that I can only do the best that I can do. I cannot control the outcome. I can only control what I can do and know that, then move on. That brings me solace. Keep trying my best and that’s all that I can give and do, and be satisfied with that.