My 2024 Resolution Alternatives: Bonus

 
(Photo by Dreaming Ace of Dreaming Ace's 2024 Daily List) 

(Despite me writing 1/1/23 LOL)

For me my daily list helps me find the right balance of structure and unstructured planning for the new year. I have been doing daily lists for several years now and this is in part why I don't need to have New Year's Resolutions. I have worked on my lists until it covers pretty much everything I hope to incorporate at the beginning of the year.

My daily list includes a few categories I want to do each day, and the list does change slightly over the course of the year depending on particular seasonal focuses I want to have. For me I find open ended categories to be more useful than being super specific but it comes down to knowing yourself. 

After working with daily lists for years I have come up with categories that I can accomplish no matter what kind of day I am having, how many spoons I have, or how busy I am. What you choose for your own list could be anything really. For me the key is is categories because for example I might not have a cup of tea everyday I can do something related to "self love".

My 2024 Daily List for January 

Fitness: 

I include any fitness activities I do, walking, yoga, stretching, dancing, an fitness app etc. (I use a great fitness app that includes all types of fitness routines from cardio and strength, to stretching and meditation. In addition there are fitness routines of all lengths including 3-4 min stretches that work even on the most low energy days) 

Health: 

I include taking a multivitamin, brushing my teeth, using mouthwash etc. 

Self Love: 

I include getting outside, having a cup of tea, using lotion, self-massage, going to a free wellness/selfcare event, etc. Lots of small doable activities that show myself self love.

Food: 

Honestly I started this after reading about how historians love having data on what people actually ate (There are amazing historical mysteries such as a condiment that was once used by pretty much everyone but no one bothered to write down what it was because at the time everyone "knew") so this category is for future historians. (You're Welcome LOL) 

I also find this category helps me check in and see what I have eaten each day This is never about judging what I eat instead it is just about self-awareness and making sure I eat food every day in a semi-timely manner. I fall firmly in the there are NO "bad" foods (other than ones you are allergic to and therefore "bad adjacent" for you personally) 

Everything Else: 

This is a list of everything I accomplish in my day, everything from listening to a podcast, or writing a blog post, to going though email, or doing chores. I find "Everything Else" useful because I am the type of person who quickly forgets what they have accomplished and defaults to I didn't do anything today, this week, this season etc. Writing it down both means I have proof that I have gotten stuff done and tends to motivate me to do more things so that I can write them down in my journal. 

My 2024 Resolution Alternatives: Part 2

 

In addition to picking a theme for 2024 "gentle, gentle" I also had a "Star Word" drawn for me. A pastor friend of mine has "star words" that members of her church get to pick at random for the new year. In addition she draws "star words" for anyone who comments that they want one. She then sends a photo (see above) and mails the "star word" to you if you want.

This year the word "openness" was drawn for me and it happens to be purple my favorite color. Openness seems to be a good addition to my year's theme of "gentle, gentle." I hope I can be open to the wonders around me, open to change, open to thriving. 2024 looks like it will be challenging on a global level so I have to work extra hard on my own micro level of living.

(Photo by Dreaming Ace)

Over the years I have gotten Prepare, Clarity, Look (which happened to be the year I presented on Sherlock Holmes at DePaul which felt fitting since Sherlock says to Observe) and last year I got Servant. If you don't have someone to draw a "star word" for you there are random word generators online that can pick a random word* for you. 

*Note: You might need to go through a few before you have one that works. Some that came up randomly were not words anyone would choose for a year such as pain or violence. Or you might just have to modify the word that pops up like say houseplant could become growth, rooted, hydrate, sunshine etc.

My 2024 Resolution Alternatives: Part 1

(Photo taken by Dreaming Ace)

While many people choose to pick resolutions at this time of year I do something a little differently I tend to pick themes/mantras for my year instead. Often it ends up being based on what fandoms I am watching, reading, or listening too.

A few years ago my theme was "Throw away the plan" (via Captain Cold) which worked really well and meant that whenever plans did not work out as expected I was just practicing my resolution LOL I still incorporate this theme in all my plans today.

Last year my theme was "Hob Gadling wonders" based on Sandman, when Hob Gadling was asked in 1489 about his experience of the past 100 years, his response was:

All right. I'll tell you what it's like. ( sighs ) It's fսck¡ng brilliant. It's all changing. In what way? Um... Chimneys. Not having your eyes watering all the time from the smoke. ( chuckles ) And now we have these little cloth pieces for your nose. In the old days, we just used our sleeves.

While focusing on the everyday things, events, activities that would be wonders to someone from 1389 honestly I forgot what my theme was pretty quickly and I just ended up starting this years theme early (or maybe I just continued with the "throw away the plan" theme LOL)

This year I am continuing with the theme of "gentle, gentle" based off Wentworth Miller's social media posts which basically became my theme when I first saw Wentworth post it this summer. It is a reminder to be "gentle, gentle" with ourselves and with the world when we are feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, stressed, etc.

"Gentle, Gentle" feels like an important theme to have for this year. Looking at the current state of the world we will need lots of "gentle, gentle" energy if we hope to collectively survive, collectively thrive, collectively vibrate at the right frequency, in 2024. 

In tomorrow's blog post I will discuss my 2024 "Star Word" "Openness"

Hello 2024 ...

 

My New Year's Wish For You

Another New Year is before us

And we don’t know what it will bring

What challenges we will face, What amazingness we will achieve

Discovering how to navigate this multiverse

(We’ve) got so much to live for. (1)

People are almost always better than you think they are. (2)

All (we) really need is a kind word and a friendly face. (3)

And Yes we should dare suggest (we all) need companionship (4)

We should focus on what matters

Moments where (we are) doing what (we) need to do

to make sure that (we) vibrate at the right frequency …

things that are small, doable, affordable, and that nourish (us). (5)

Gentle Gentle

Slow Slow

Thoughtful Thoughtful

Flow Flow (6)

You won’t be doing it alone.

We are all just trying to figure out this being human thing together. (7)

Make the plan, Execute the plan,

Expect the plan to go off the rails,

Throw away the plan. (8)

*quietly confident in the manifold gifts you possess,

both known and unknown to you*

Right behind you.

You got this. (9)

Happy New Year

Goodbye 2023 ...

 

Today is New Years Eve a time when we tend to look back on our past year and see where we feel like we succeeded and where we feel like we have failed. This is an important time to remember one of the mythic story of Utgarda-Loki where it appears that Thor, Loki, and their traveling companion failed a series of tests but:

Even though they lost all of the contests, all of them performed great feats unachievable by mortal men. Loki was competing against the fire itself (Logi – ‘fire’ in Old Norse), but nonetheless he was consuming his food nearly as fast. Thialfi raced against thought itself (Hugi – ‘thought’ in Old Norse), and despite that still made it half way to finish line. The other end of the drinking horn from the feasting contest was connected to the sea, and Thor drank a good half of it before setting the horn down greatly scaring the giants that he would drain it whole. Even the cat was no ordinary pet but the World Serpent in disguise, and Thor still managed to lift part of it in the sky over the already depleted sea. As for the final challenge, the elderly woman was aging itself (Elli – ‘age’ in Old Norse) and Thor took an eternity to be defeated by it.

So no matter how you think you did in 2023 I am here to tell you, you have preformed great feats. I do not know what 2024 will bring you, bring me, or bring the world but I know we all we continue to perform great feats. In this time of reflection know you are amazing and wonderful. I hope you have a good 2023.

-----

New Years Eve 2023 

by Dreaming Ace

On this New Year’s Eve

As you reflect on your past year

Remember, the Utgarda-Loki tale

The challenges you have faced

The moments you feel you have failed

The “throw away the plan” days

Were days you faced off against fire

Or raced thought itself or consumed the Ocean

Were days you were succeeding

Succeeding even if you didn’t know it

Even if you didn’t see it or feel it at the time

Succeeding even if you didn’t know it

If you are currently alive

You have succeeded in 2023

You will succeed in 2024

No matter how drained

No matter how deeply tired

No matter how lost you were

If you are currently alive

You have succeeded in 2023

You will succeed in 2024

Succeeding even if you don’t know it

Even if you didn’t see it or feel it at the time

Succeeding even if you don’t know it

On this New Year’s Eve

As you reflect on your past year

Remember, the Utgarda-Loki tale

The challenges you have faced

The moments you feel you have failed

The “throw away the plan” days

Were days you faced off against fire

Or raced thought itself or consumed the Ocean

Were days you were succeeding

"Gentle, Gentle" Holidays

It's December which is a month filled with holidays and holiday activities for many of us. In the middle of the hustle and bustle of this time of year we can become overwhelmed and need to pause. We need to be "gentle, gentle" with ourselves at this time of year. If you are so overwhelmed you don't know how to pause here are a few suggestions.

• Pause and take a few deep breaths
• Move a little: go for a walk, stretch, do yoga, kickbox etc. 
• Drink a hot beverage: tea, hot cocoa, etc.
• Read something for fun
• Put a yule log up on your computer or TV
• Listen to a fun holiday mix of music
• Watch a fun holiday special
• Take a nice warm shower
• Use some nice lotion
• Order a meal in
• Take a nap when needed
• Get whatever you are feeling out via journaling, or physical activity, or a creative activity
• Make sure you are eating 
• Remembering this Christmas does not have to look like last Christmas. 

10,000 Deaths: Heartbreaking Milestones

 

According to NPR:

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has reached a gruesome milestone: More than 10,000 people have died in Gaza in the four weeks since the conflict began.

On Monday, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported more than 10,000 people killed — most of them women and children — in the besieged territory.

 

While every single death in war is a death too many, I know when numbers get that big it is hard to conceptualize so I translated what 10,000 deaths would be equivalent to for different countries* since Gaza's population is small so the same number of deaths mean a greater heartbreak for Gaza then other countries with larger populations. The collective impact of say losing 1 in a million people is different than say 1 in a thousand which is different from say 1 in a hundred. 

About half a percentage of those living in the Gaza Strip have been killed

(The Gaza Strip has a population of about 2 million, so 10000 is about half a percent)  

Half a percentage of those living in Israel is about 46,820

(The population of Israel is 9.364 million) 

Half a percentage of those living in the US is about 1,659,500

(The US population is about 331.9 million)

 

So if the conflict happened here in the US it would be the equivalent of losing the population of

San Antonio 1,472,909

Or

Philadelphia 1,567,258

Or 

Phoenix 1,644,409

Or 

About twice the causalities of the US civil war

10/16/23 c

By Dreaming Ace

The problem with wars that last generations

You can always find a reason to continue fighting

The other side is always doing something

That you believe somehow “justifies” war

“Oh my god, enough!

Now you listen to me…

I said enough!

I’m sick of all this fighting!”*

We will never know who threw

The first stone, or at least the first stone 

After Europe told you two to cage fight 

Over a bit of meaningful but arid land

No no no no no!

No, you don’t!

When you have a problem you come home

You don’t go off and make matters worse on your own*

You DO NOT take hostages

You DO NOT prevent humanitarian aid

You DO NOT launch rockets

You DO NOT create modern day apartheid

You DO NOT target civilian’s only possible escape routes 

You DO NOT choose genocide as an answer

“Oh my god, enough!

Now you listen to me…

I said enough!

I’m sick of all this fighting!”*

“Because it's always the same. 

When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, 

You have no idea who's going to die. 

You don't know whose children are going to scream and burn. 

How many hearts will be broken! 

How many lives shattered! 

How much blood will spill until everybody does 

What they're always going to have to do from the very beginning -- 

SIT DOWN AND TALK”**

*”Enough” from In The Heights

*The Doctor's War Speech from Doctor Who

 *All population data differs slightly depending on the source but the over all truths are the same