With Thanksgiving barely in our rear view, Christmas preparation is in full swing for many. Radio stations have begun broadcasting carols non-stop, my town was decorating today and I have seen numerous Christmas trees atop cars and tossed in car trunks. I don’t mind any of it, I’m just trying to understand how another year has slipped through my fingers and I’m taking stock in what I have to show for it. I’m also peering ahead into 2019. A new year - another chance to get it right, to live better. I’m reminded of a quote, attributed to Immanuel Kant, “Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.” I guess we get that chance everyday we wake up - that chance to get it right and to live better. And yet we wait for the magic that we believe a new year to hold. A new year that’s guaranteed to none of us. In February, author Dani Shapiro is leading a conference at Kripalu. I’m deciding if I’m attending (leaning towards yes) and while I decide, I’m reading her book Still Writing: The Pleasures & Perils of a Creative Life. Earlier today, I read an article titled 21 Ways to Raise Your Vibration. This isn’t as woo woo as it sounds. Restated less woo woo, the title of this article would read, Change Your Experience. We can change our experience at any time - we don’t have to wait for the magical, mythical new year. Changing our experience isn’t as hard as we believe it to be. The article offers 21 ways, none of which are particularly difficult or even take a lot of time. I want to change my experience related to writing & I know that meditating as little as 10-minutes a day could help be do that. That and being conscious of foods I eat. Movement. All of this, and more, could change my experience in ways related to writing and bigger ways. Why don’t we do this stuff? Why don’t I do this stuff? Sometimes, writing can be scary. Unlocking the untold story deep within. You know what’s scarier? Regret. Andrea and I have some time off together coming up. We’ll be tossing a Christmas tree in the back of the Subaru. And maybe I’ll spend some time raising my vibration.