New City, New Year

Moving to a new city is
Exciting
Exhausting
Expensive
Exactly what I've done.

Moving is the only time you touch everything you own at least once. And usually you start to wonder where all this stuff came from. But you pack it up and move it with you anyway. Because, well, I might need it! It's a good time to purge out some unwanted things, but we do carry lots of stuff around with us, don't we?

In a new city, a sense of exploration is important. Figuring out where things are, how to best get to where you need to go. Meeting new people. It's fun. Tiring sometimes, and time consuming, but fun.

Many things seem more time consuming these days. There never seems to be enough time to keep up with everything. That seems true now more than ever. How many online accounts do we really need?How many passwords do I have to remember? Check the phone, check emails, check snail mail, check Facebook, and oh yeah, write a post for my blog. Time flies, whether you're having fun or not!

So here I am, in a new city in a new year. 2012. An interesting year. Maybe. Is it the end? An end? A beginning? Or just another year. The end of the world has been predicted before, many times, and yet, here we still are. Nobody knows for sure. So I guess we'll find out.

If 2012 is the end of something,  I have decided to think that maybe it's the end of the world, as we know it. Maybe this year will usher in a better world, a more peaceful world. a happier world. Maybe that sounds very Pollyanna, and usually, I can be as cynical as anybody, but in this one thing, I'm holding out a bit of hope.

"You could say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." John Lennon said it best ... in his own write, of course.

New City, New Year. What will we be saying about 2012 next year at this time?

A New Year. Friends. Experiences. Balance.

2011 Where did that first decade of the 2000's go anyway?

Though I know it's a cliche, time does seem to travel faster as we get older. But it is always a good time for reflection. How did we do last year? What would we like the next year to look like? What choices will we make? What is important? How do we find the balance that works for us?

Most people have limited amounts of money and free time. And we never seem to have both at once... When you have money (you're working) you don't have much free time (that work thing takes up way too much of our precious time!). And when you have free time (as in unemployed) you usually don't have money.

So when you have a little extra time and money, what do you do? Would you rather acquire more things, more stuff? Or do you spend it on experiences, like travel? Finding a good balance is the key. And living in small apartments has taught me a lesson about owning too much stuff... "but where would I put it?"

So last year, I took some money out of savings, and opted for an experience, a travel adventure. Using the JetBlue All You Can Jet Pass, I travelled for 30 straight days, spending money on transportation, food and lodging. More importantly, that pass enabled me to visit many friends and family who are scattered all over the country.

Maybe the secret to making choices in the new year is to keep in mind the relationships that are important to us and try not to lose track of them. It's hard to do because everyone's lives are so busy. But enjoying time with our real family and our "chosen family" (our friends) is valuable. And I always like to shake up the routine, see new places, explore new horizons.

So now the obvious question for me in the new year is .... where can I go and who can I visit in 2011?

Wishes for 2010

Here we are in 2010. What will the new year bring?

We're not even sure what to call it... Is it twenty-ten? Or two thousand and ten? Or 2K10? Or are there other versions? What did we call the last decade, the 00's? The Oughts? The Zeros? We are in the 21st Century, we know that much. It feels like a time of great transition. That's true for me personally, but it feels like it's also true for the whole world. Let's hope we continue to learn and grow and evolve into better human beings, living in a better world.

Wouldn't it be nice if more people believed in peace, and kindness, and compassion? Does that sound corny? Why is that? "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" was a song written in the 1970's. But too many people still laugh at these ideas.

In some circles, it's cool to be tough, violent, hateful and mean. This seems pathetic and childish to me.

Can we make it cool to be smart, kind, generous and compassionate?

Can we stop making fun of people who are different than us? Because, let's face it, every single person you meet is different than you. Let's stop teaching that we're all alike, because then people seem shocked when people are different. Other than the fact that all humans need the basics like food, air and water, every single person you meet is different from you... physically, mentally, their experiences, their stories. Even your family members. Everyone is different. We can learn a lot from different peoples' different stories, if we just stop and listen, and stop being shocked by the differences. Let's embrace them. The world would be a boring place if everyone was just like you. Or me.

If you choose to hate someone because they're different from you, you'll be living a very hate-filled life, because you'll have to hate everybody. Maybe it makes you feel better about your insecure self for a short time, but there must be other, more positive ways to achieve that.

It's not cool or smart to be violent or hateful. It's dumb and childish.

That's my wish for 2010...

Let's make it cool to be smart and kind. Here's to peace, love, and understanding.