If someone made me choose a theme for 2023, it would be death and grief. There were shiny, gorgeous moments this year, too. And, don’t get me wrong – I loved and appreciated each of them.
But my dad died. So there’s that. It’s my first ‘close-hand’, first-degree experience with death. As an only child of divorced parents, I had all of the post-death responsibility. Additionally, because I historically made the continuation of the father-daughter relationship also my responsibility (because he didn’t take much responsibility at all for it), I felt pretty awful that I wasn’t there by his side…as I’d always imagined I’d be.
And saying my goodbyes to him over the past 10 months has been heart-wrenching work.
My other griefs will remain unnamed for the time being. But the soul-wringing has been real. And I am ready to put a pin it – all.
I see the dawn of 2024 rising like a phoenix from the ashes of 2023.
I feel creativity quickening in my marrow.
I realize that my strength flows from love and gratitude.
I know my wisdom outflanks my fear.
Thanks, 2023, for the blaze I walked, sometimes crawled, through.
Thanks, 2023, for all of it…the lessons, the tears, the opportunities, the sun, the clouds, the joys, the sorrows, the triumphs and the defeats. I’ll take what’s useful with me into 2024 and leave the rest with you…and watch it fade in my rear-view.
~ar~
anniericci 