It’s a New Year – New ideas, and commitments to bring forth new life to our goals.
In general I like to select a word or phrase for the year and this year I thought it would be fun for my lover, Rich (remember him) and I to come up with something together. So, while sipping a Manhattan on the eve of the 31st as we bantered back and forth, Rich came up with the Italian phrase “Vita Facile” translated to “Easy Life” and immediately the Italophile that I am said “Si, Si, that’s it!”. I may have actually said “Yes, that’s it” but doesn’t “Si, Si” flow better?
I decided to pair this beautiful phrase with one of my creative endeavors for 2024: To write 12 essay, one for each month of the new year.
I hit the road running, which at this time of year is very typical for me. I work on one of the largest conferences in the healthcare industry and this year, as luck would have it, I got sick in the midst of the madness and had to continue to work. As I powered through the many hours of work, I wasn’t feeling very “easy.” Was the excitement of the “Vita Facile” moment shattered?
In between the sneezing, coughing and fever, I said “no.” I must to honor “Vita Facile” and be easy with myself. I find It always comes back to something so simple but very hard to do. We can choose how we react to our circumstances, but most of the time our emotions decide for us. Believe me, I was frustrated. But I made a decision to not be aggravated by my circumstances and allowed myself to be easy with me. I took many deep breaths, consumed plenty of tea, and took rest when I was able. I wasn’t miraculously healed, but I made it through. I got some antibiotics and started my new year on January 13th with a massage.
Later that weekend, with the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree that was still standing, many boxes from moving and the remnants of opened and unopened gifts, our music room was a bit of a mess. So, the idea of an “easy life” once again didn’t feel very easy. But I welcomed this moment alone in my new home and decided that instead of waiting for this room to be the perfect setting for the listening ear, I was going to play one of my new Christmas gifts, the album “The Stranger.” As I stood there drinking my cup of tea, singing along to Billy Joel – I allowed myself to see the stranger in me.
I am not exactly sure of the theme of my first 2024 essay, but what I do know is that I made a firm decision to write and to embrace the “Vita Facile”. They say when you set a goal to work-out, it is better to work out for 10 minutes then no minutes. Maybe this isn’t my finest writing, but I am being “easy” with myself and that’s what matters most to me .
TL's Moments 