2023 Reflections and Recollections

2023 Reflections and Recollections

This has been quite some time in the making.  We have been on a whirlwind ride. Rollercoastering to another time and place. So much of me needs to believe in honesty, simplicity and faith right now. I understand reflection again.

 

10 Highlights - accomplishments and best memories:

*Starting the year in Adelaide and visiting Mt Gambier

*Expanding the cultural events, we attend to include more films, performances, exhibitions and festivals.

*travelling to, around and back from Vietnam on the surface: Slow travel without flying.

*Connecting more and more often with genuine friends and making new friends from diverse cultural, generational and social backgrounds in Cambodia.

*Having Barry visit several times and Shelley coming for the first time and some of that time overlapping. 

*Playing Table Tennis again and generally being fitter and healthier by swimming, walking and exercising more. As a result seeing the vast improvement in my strength, flexibility and balance.

*Increasing the alcohol-free days and making a genuine attempt to drink less as well as less often.

*happy recipient who didn't even know snail mail was possible!

*Beginning the snail mail revival project and ensuring that the messages our mail contain not only tell our story but also express the appreciation we have for our connection to those who receive them.

*Participating in the Xmas celebration at The Sisters Missionaries of Charity School and the pre-event packing.

*Sonya finally making it to Cambodia and we the travelling trio having so many adventures and so much fun together.

 

 

5 Disappointments -

Failures and messed up opportunities;

 

*Bhutan not coming to fruition despite the best efforts and intentions of so many

*Knowing we have fewer genuine friends with similar passions, values and lifestyles here than in any other country, where  we have lived.

*Seeing and hearing less and less about the little monks and knowing nothing about their learning journey.

*Ian missing out on the Xmas volunteering due to getting Covid a second time.

*Still not being able to repair the stairs, even though more neighbours are prepared to contribute to the cost.

 

  *Though that has indeed changed since I began writing this and genuine improvements and repairs have already begun.

 

3 Game Changers -

Unexpected things that changed your priorities:

 

*Discovering new ways to volunteer and contribute to our local communities and individuals.

*Realising that although the stairs are a challenge as a result of that daily workout they have also greatly contributed to our improved strength, balance and mobility.

*Discovering new ways to connect to likeminded people.

 

3 Areas of Focus -

What you spent most of your time on:

*improving my mental and physical health and wellbeing and expanding the variety of healthy, homemade food we cook

*Breaking old habits and meaningless routines in favour of living in the present and appreciating the flexibility of the ways we can spend our time in retirement.

*Writing reflective, analytical and researched pieces for my blog and not just journaling and chronicling our lives.

 

 

3 Things you forgot -

What you did not get around to:

 

*Sorting and storing photographs from the many trips we have made.

*Disposing appropriately of all the camera equipment we have but no longer use, as our phones are more convenient and produce reasonable quality images.

*Continuing to study and write Chinese lapsed as I focused on other new skills and given that I am a language nerd I should readopt this practice.

 

 

 

Reflections -

How does this inform your plans for this year? :

 

*Connection to others is hugely important. Making and maintaining friendships positively impacts my own mental health. Realising the value of old friendships and accepting that connection over long distance and not in person is significant, valuable and supportive, has been a game changer for me personally, whilst simultaneously deciding to not always be the one to reach out and instead letting go of false friends, has really helped me prioritise what is important and avoid of the nastiness of others. This gives me more perspective and allows me to prioritise myself too.

 

*For me, it is essential to continue to be passionate about maintaining a slow, simple, sustainable and secure lifestyle and keep looking for ways to lessen the environmental and social impact of our actions. Activism without action is actually just hot air.

 

*Dreams, aspirations and plans are as essential as living mindfully. It is only by working towards an objective, facing the challenges and disappointments that the satisfaction of achieving your goal can be fully appreciated. The setbacks and failures are all part of the process and teach us practical lessons and give us insights into who we really are at a fundamental level.