I’m starting this year off in quarantine. The Covid-19 pandemic has been going on for almost two years now. I’ve managed to avoid it up until now. My daughter tested positive for the virus right after Christmas, following two days of family celebrations. And so, now we’re all in quarantine in our own homes. Some of us (including me) have come down with symptoms, while others have managed to avoid it. But now we’re all isolated, getting ready to ring in the New Year by ourselves. We used to always have a big New Year’s Eve party in our home with lots of people, lots of food, and lots of games. At midnight, we’d watch the ball drop on TV from Times Square and we’d say a prayer for the New Year. This year, it’s going to be much quieter.
This year, it will just be four of us in our home trying to keep our tired eyes open until midnight to watch the ball drop. It will just be four of us laying on the couches, doing some quiet activities, and eating some meatballs and crab dip I only make on New Year’s Eve. It will just be the four of us trying to stay well. This New Year will be a time of resting, slowing down, contemplating, and enjoying the quiet. Do I miss the days of noise and laughter and crowds? Sure! But am I appreciating the quieter restfulness of this New Year? Yes!
I think I will choose the word REST for my word of 2022. Rest. Time apart. Relaxation. Easing up. Slowing down. Taking a break. Unwinding. Recharging. Taking it easy. Having breathing space. Can I incorporate these times into my life this year? Can I be okay with it and not feel guilty when I take some undisturbed moments for me? Can I enjoy times of forced isolation without complaining? I want to see where this word REST takes me this year. It may be just what I need.
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