thoughts from the deep recesses

I read this statement somewhere earlier this month and it hit me profoundly. Maybe because I have had a tendency for much of my life to want to rush time. That is until about ten years ago, when the whirlwind of my kid's growing-up seemed to be going at breakneck speed and I realized my years with them at home were limited. But this year, it seems even more poignant.  You see, I have a new appreciation for living in the moment, post-Camino. Probably the most valuable skill I learned while out there pounding the path, one kilometer at a time, was enjoying the moment I was in. On the Camino, there was no point looking too far ahead. In fact, it was detrimental to my mental and emotional health to think beyond "How far am I going today?" And sometimes it was limited even more, to "You only have to get to the top of that hill..." or "Just to the next village." So now, upon my return (I just had my six month anniversary of my arrival home), ...

I have been saying for years that I want to write more. I even joined a couple of writing groups, and then frantically wrote something up each week right before it was time to go so I wouldn't look like a slacker. Clearly, it wasn't coming from a place of internal motivation. I still wrote some decent stuff, but it was a chore rather than a pleasure. Regardless, writing is still something I value and I would like to commit to it in 2020. So here goes. I love a good retrospective piece, particularly when timed along with the hanging of a new calendar. Entering a new decade makes it feel especially poignant this year. So here are some random reflections on the year: This was the year I quit a job that for years I had referred to as 'the best job in the world.' I had loved working for Weight Watchers for a full decade. In that time I discovered a skill set I had previously been unaware of. I unearthed a passion for inspiring others through the pursuit of my...