What Matters Most to You?

Really now, what matters most to you?

Whether we are delving into a deep life review over the decades or considering the shape of our 2025, a few questions can frame our loving conversation with ourselves.

This is the frame I use:

1. What mattered most to me (this year)? What gave me joy? What made me feel most alive? When did I have the most energy flowing inside me and experience the most openness to life?

For me, there were three top things that made me feel super energized and bouncy with joy: a) growing closer to and spending luscious time with my boyfriend of 2.8 years; b) intentionally devoting more time to writing posts and flirting with writing longer stories; c) leading end of life education experiences with beautiful humans.

Just reflecting on these things fill me with gratitude. And there are so many others that I want to add to that list that I feel the richness of my life.

On to the next question:

2. What do I want to let go of? What or who am I holding on to? What am I negatively attached to in thought, word or deed?

For me, I have alot of stuff here. a) I am letting go of my attachment to being good friends with my kids' dad, since he keeps expressing his lack of interest. It has been 5 years since I finally ended our 23 years of relating and I have had a hard time letting go of wanting to stay connected, especially for our kids. I am ready now. It is time.

b) I am also letting go of my belief of how much food I need in a day. I actually need much less than my brain is used to having. I let go of a bit of extra weight just recently in a very intentional way and not only do I feel better in my skin, but in my head. I can eat less and feel better!

c) I was able to accept that friendships change as we age. I let go of some friendships that I feel I outgrew and was let go of by other people. I began some new lovely friendships and have hope in some promising connections. I renewed some old friendships. Friendships and community is so important to me and is my chosen family. I feel ready and open to keep learning in this area.

d) I also let go of some chronic pain. I was feeling so frustrated by bouts of different joints and muscles in serious pain, chronic UTIs, and hormonal/blood sugar imbalances. In reflecting back over the year, I see so much improvement and resolution that I feel confident letting go of corresponding negative beliefs about my health that keep me stuck.

3. The final question has to do with how I want to align the lessons of the last year with the new year. What intentions and awarenesses do I want to bring with me as I cross the threshold into 2026?

I am thrilled to re-affirm my love of deep friendships and relationships with my beautiful, young adult daughters, my partner, my new and old friends.

I am looking forward to doing more public teaching and presentations on end of life.

I will write more, eat less, feel good in my body.

I will stay open to the lessons of the day, every day.

Peace.