life with more cowbell

Back from Alumnae Theatre Age of Arousal acting adventures and thought it would be worth posting this again, with a few additional thoughts to start off. There’s a great line in the movie Shadowlands: “We read to know we are not alone”. And I like to think that those of us who write do so, at least in part, to let others know they are not alone.

The world looks like a pretty dark place right now – and I’m not going to go into detail about what most of us already know. I recently posted a note on Instagram: “Did you sing or dance today?” This is not to make light of the dire global, and even personal, circumstances we find ourselves in – but a reminder to take care of your soul. To do something that gives you joy.

It’s okay to rage and cry – God knows we have a lot to rage and cry about these days. But we need to sing and dance too. Find joy. It doesn’t mean that you’re sticking your head in the sand or don’t care about what’s going on. It’s a way to give yourself a respite from ongoing traumatic events – and keep the light of hope alive. And be kind – that goes for kindness toward ourselves as well as others. Look for and engage in pushback – from protests, to legal action, to social media posts. Get into what John Lewis so eloquently dubbed “good trouble” – and look for or be what Mr. Rogers aptly called “the helpers”. You are not alone.

Which takes us to my original post on kindness – as my word for 2025, along with Jewel’s song “Hands” as my song for the year:

While I was participating in a meditation practice during a recent Mindfulness Ambassador Program Alumni gathering over Zoom, my word – and song – for 2025 came to me. I looked back in the blog and I’ve used this word before, in 2022: Kindness.

And, for the first time since I started choosing a word and song for the year, they’re in sync.

As I was pondering what lies ahead for this new year, I found myself feeling torn between celebrating the holidays and a feeling of deep concern and helplessness for the pain and suffering in my community, my province, my country and the world. I came to the conclusion, as I mentioned in my previous post, that we can still gather joyfully with friends and family to welcome new beginnings while being mindful of that pain, suffering and sorrow – and the work yet to be done. And to move forward with hope, kindness and light to push back the darkness.

Like Jewel’s song “Hands” says, “In the end, only kindness matters.” And, while I’m not religious – preferring to meditate and send out light instead of praying, and more of a believer in the collective power of the universe than in God in the traditional sense – it’s my song for 2025.

What’s your word for 2025? What’s your song?