Refresh the Soul Writing Prompt #21

Taking the Time to Appreciate 2022 as I Welcome the New Year

In heartfelt praise of its gifts, lessons, and magical moments

Some people I know could not wait to be done with 2022.

That might have had to do with COVID, and how bound they felt having to be mindful 24/7, wear masks, and avoid their favorite stomping grounds.

I can relate.

But we still have COIVD and it’s a new year. Just like viruses have no respect for geography or medical history in their mindless pursuit of self-perpetuation, viruses don’t stay put in the years we’d love to confine them to.

I don’t want to blame 2022 for COVID. Or anything that didn’t go as I would have liked.

Because those challenges gave me opportunities to practice new skills like saying no or setting boundaries. If they contain a blessing, then, to me, they are a blessing.

So I’m grateful for Nancy Blackman, MASF’s 21st prompt:

Here are my top ten gifts, lessons, and moments of 2022.

1. SoulCollage® for Writers

While I’ve been a SoulCollage® facilitator for years, my vision of making and reading SoulCollage® cards to inspire, enhance, and inform my writing arrived fully orbed in 2022. A eureka moment for sure!

I’ve written about it here, there, and everywhere I can. My book’s due out later this year. And my Substack newsletter, SoulCollage® for Writers is growing beyond my wildest dreams. Next up, are workshops and classes.

Now that I’ve found the sweet spot where these two worlds intersect, I’m staking my claim and pitching my tent. So stay tuned, I’ll keep you posted!

2. Meg Stewart’s Recovery

Meg is not just my mentor, techie, and hand holder. She’s a dear friend.

So when she came down with a bad case of pneumonia in September and had to be intubated, ventilated, and sedated, it felt like the bottom dropped out from under me.

Her progress was hard to watch, ’cause it was so slow. She didn’t come off the ventilator until November! It took her a while to wake up and start functioning. She went to long-term care, then rehab, and finally, home. Just before Christmas. Thank God!

She’s still got a ways to go. But she’s my Meg! Each time we talk, she sounds better. Join me in knowing a full and speedy recovery for her in the new year. Thank you!

3. The Power of Play

Spending time with my mom, sister, both nieces, and grandniece, Moira, as well as cousins last spring refilled my love tank. We had a great time, playing Bananagrams, going for bird walks, and watching movies. But reading books and playing with my three-year-old grandniece was the icing on that cake.

One moment stands out: Our 92-year-old mom put Moira on the seat of her walker. Together they chased my youngest niece and her auntie all through the house. She squealed with delight. And Mom got quite a workout.

You can’t plan those moments. But you might be able to grab a phone and record some of it. We sure did.

May we all have precocious three-year-olds in our lives teaching us the power of laughter and play.

4. Essentrics Classical Stretch Classes

I’ve subscribed to former ballerina, Miranda Esmond-White’s Essentrics program for several years and done them sporadically. But when I do them, my back and neck feel better, which is why I do them.

Each class has a focus. I choose back strength, flexibility, and posture classes most of the time. And every once in a while a balance class or hip/glute stretches.

On September 14, I decided to do a 23–25 minute class every day. In four months I’ve only missed two days! Even my chiropractor is impressed.

5. More Better Boundaries

Boy have I had lots of opportunities to practice the art of saying no.

This is hard teaching for me. Yes seems to roll off my tongue, whereas no gets stuck in my throat. As a result, I’m stretched way too thin. Especially when it comes to church responsibilities. I’m about to step down from the Board of Directors, but I chair the Worship Team and Prayer Chaplains, as well as facilitate our Unlearning Racism book study group.

Saying no got easier when my roommate developed bad back pain.

I’m her main go-to person. She needs rides, help with household tasks, and navigating health care and social services. I got her a walker to improve her mobility. Strongly recommend them! My Occupational Therapy Aide training comes in very handy.

So now I have even more reasons to say no. I’m learning to keep my mouth shut. Or negotiate a trade. I’ll do X if you do Y. That’s working.

Wish I could master this skill without anyone suffering such pain.

6. Let’s hear it for the Rain!

Northern California’s been in drought-city for years. Hence our ominous forest fires.

But starting around Christmas time, we’ve had copious amounts of rain. Some of it was too much, too fast, with high winds. We’ve had floods, road closures, felled trees, and other hazards.

But we’re getting the rain we so need!

We’re not where we need to be, but yet, it’s wet!

I love being lullabied to sleep to the sound of rain pounding on the roof. May this mean fewer fires in the Fall!

7. Blogging on Medium.com

For all its foibles, I love blogging here on the platform. I blogged every day in 2022, sometimes more than once. Am I crazy? Yes, but that’s not why.

Do I makalotta money? Nope. But I did cross the mystical one-hundred-dollar threshold. The sky parted, a beam of light engulfed me and angels sang hallelujah. At least in my head.

Did I sustain this level? Nope. Not sure why. Well, I have an inkling. I prioritized my novel and gave it my best energy. So, no hard feelings.

I’m grateful for lots of new publications to write for, including Refresh the Soul!

8. My Substack Newsletters

Over the course of 2022, I started not one but two Substack newsletters. The first one, in February, Sacred Foolishness, is devoted to all things clown, Commedia, and comic. Yes, I finally niched down.

Good news: My Sacred Foolishness subscriber list is growing way faster than the Convert Kit signups I have linked to my Medium posts. Substack does a better job of getting our work in front of potential subscribers than Medium nowadays, IMHO.

Even better news:: My SoulCollage® for Writers Substack is growing even faster than Sacred Foolishness. And I just started it in November! On Nov. 21, when it had 11 subscribers, I got 78 more in one day! That had to be a mistake. I kept waiting for them to unsubscribe. But so far, knock on wood, they haven’t.

9. My Ninja Writers Community

Blame it on Shaunta Grimes. She started it!

Our Ninja Writers community, that is.

Over this last year, she went from teacher to editor to good friend. Since it’s a subscription-based program, and I got in early, I get a whole lotta bang for relatively few bucks, including more classes, workshops, and write-ins that I can go to and get any writing done.

That’s where I met Meg and many other writer friends. Between writing stints, the classes are an oasis in my day. I get to see my friends, learn a lesson, and/or get feedback on a work in progress.

Ninja Writers is where I met Debbie Walker who started her publication, Middle-Pause after coaching with Shaunta. I’m an editor there on an awesome team. We learned how to podcast, thanks Margie Pearl, and publish an anthology thanks to Meg.

10. Starting my day with Spirit-Guided Reflection

Back in June, I learned about AWE — Automatic Writing Experience — journaling from Mike Dooley. Every morning, my spirit guides shore me up with their wisdom. They remind me to breathe deeply of air. And also of life.

They remind me to get up and move, drink water, and take care of myself. The more I have on my plate, the more self-care I need. They cajole me into going to bed on the same day I get up!

And they guide me to keep my bearings amidst the caca that pasa. To let go of judgment, to be more patient, accepting, and compassionate. To respond to daggers thrown at me with kindness instead of in-kind stuff. And to use prayer, play, and singing to keep my vibration high.

There’s probably a lot more, but ten is the magic number for this prompt. But I have a feeling the number will need to be higher for 2023!

Happy new year, everyone!

Allow me to share Judy Walker’s post about how to stop shoulding on ourselves and reframe what we get to do in our lives from a place of pure gratitude! Thank you, Judy!

Marilyn Flower’s the author of Creative Blogging: Ninja Writers Guide to Character Development and Bucket Listers, Get Your Brave On. Clowning and improvisation strengthen her resolve during these crazy times. Follow her Sacred Foolishness and Stay in touch!