A New Year & A New Plan

On this first day of January, I write from my back patio overlooking the deep blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Each rolling wave reminds me of the regularity of the cycles in our lives.

A breath in.

A breath out.

A dawn breaks.

A night falls.

A tide comes in.

Just as imperceptibly as it came in, it goes out.

The new year rolls in without regard to our preparedness, eagerness, or awareness.

This annual cycle continues and, hopefully, we each get one more trip around the sun to enjoy this experience called life.

The last two years have been filled with many firsts for my family.

A move to Puerto Rico.

The experience of college.

A new language.

A business partner.

A new sport of wing foiling.

A deepening relationship with Katie.

The first time driving a car with a license.

Getting another puppy.

Renting a home.

Braces.

The last two years have also been filled with many lasts for my family.

The last time we live full-time in Washinton State.

The last my kids will ever see public school.

The last time I saw my grandmother.

The last time Katie saw her dad.

The last time the USA will be our home base.

Cycles Come And Go.

There can be some sadness with each passing cycle knowing that each moment will not come again.

That knowledge though, makes each experience all the more special.

The last time I held my grandmother she called me her “guardian angel”.

The last time I saw my other grandmother she looked me directly in the eyes and winked as she told me, “You are a winner. You have already won.”

Those are precious moments.

The New Plan Is To Embrace Each Moment

Each night as I tuck my ten-year-old baby girl into bed, I realize this might be the last night she asks for me to read to her.

This might be the last night she asks for a goodnight kiss.

My older boys, already accepting the independence I’m giving to them, may stop asking me for advice.

I will cherish each inquiry as if it were my own.

My Calendar Is Full

I could go on for pages about the plans and ambitions I have for this year, but if I can be there for each moment, both the ups and the downs, I will have a successful year.

What more could I want than a spouse to hold my hand tight, a son to come to me with his questions on life during adolescence, a daughter wanting a kiss before bed, and a child to lean their head on my shoulder during a movie, or one of my kids to look up into the audience for me with pride in their eyes after a great performance?

These will be the measures of my year.

If I can live up to those standards, I will be happy with my results.

Wish me luck as I embark on this new year.