Prompt, Middle-Pause
Jazzing Up Intentions for the New Year
‘Resolutions ‘— from resolute — are too rigid
Like uprooted seaweed on the waves, content with the freedom to drift and let the day arrive, some people in retirement are happy without goals.
The gold-star kid, motivated by gold-star stickers on elementary school ditto sheets, still needs intentions. I attended pre-retirement workshops on what retirement would look like, and the details were all wrong, but the broad strokes were right.
My first years were all about travel, and, based on recent experiences, local travel will be a feature in 2024 — I hope.
I have just returned from the airport crowd at Christmas, which confirmed my bias the last time I took an airplane — there’s too much hassle, standing, changes, exposure, and stress around getting to and from the flight.
The Uber was late. A last-minute gate change required a mile march with luggage across the airport. The flight was packed. A baby cried. The plane sat on the tarmac.
I use walking sticks, for knee pain. They both get me counted as disabled in long lines and get in the way of hikes across the miles of floor, towing my suitcase on wheels. Am I disabled enough for a wheelchair? My pride says no, my knee says yes, so I defer to pride. Next time, I’ll listen to the knees.
Airplane travel, except when necessary, may be over.
Last year I thought I would get new knees, but life intervened and I focused on writing instead — poetry readings, networking with writers, workshops, blogging, and fiction. This choice has been fulfilling.
I hope to get new knees in 2024, but life has intervened again and I face some other procedures first, rehabilitation, and then we’ll see. Broad strokes work, but details, not so much.
My 2024 Intentions:
- Be Present for those who matter and where our lives cross.
- Write. Specific goals and workshops to follow.
- Travel regionally. Specific places to be identified.
- Volunteer with two specific organizations, up to 4–6 hours per week.
- Follow-up on budgeting and personal organizational matters.
- Continue with healthy living/exercise and nutrition habits.
- Explore contracting for needed help (tech, cleaning).
All that Jazz!
I love jazz. This innovative music represents and reflects my life. I went to at least three live jazz events in 2023 which left me hungry for more. So I will be on the search for concerts, festivals, and events to attend in 2024
I especially like the 1960s-70s era of Miles Davis, the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), and John Coltrane. I love the theme and variations, the riffs by the saxophonist, trumpet, keyboard, and percussion. Coming back together. Living in the moment, but following a unifying theme, melody, and song. Soft, moaning, celebrating, loud, individual yet blended group. More than the sum of parts.
Sadly, none of my current friends like jazz or accompany me to concerts. A specific goal in 2024 is to identify ways to enjoy jazz with others.
Thanks to Marilyn Flower for starting the conversation about intentions.
Sharon Johnson is a grandmother who walks by the river.
