By LIZ MARCHI
The last two years have been spent trying to change habits, explore new opportunities and changing tempo. I have had mixed results. Obviously one of the issues is I have always looked for results and I am not sure that the measures of success are the same. The tempo thing is particularly hard. I feel like I do far less and have more time.
My two guiding principles for living have been 1) In the difference between what is and what can be, therein lies the challenge and 2) effective people live in the present but concentrate on the future. As we age, the future holds very different promise: your body WILL change, your friends begin to die, (sadly we lost Jon’s amazing Mother, Joan Toole, in November), your children are adults (or trying to be) and your parents are really struggling if you have them around. The conversations with your friends are about new knees and hips not new cars and trips. It’s really hard to keep up with the changes in technology and innovation, things I care deeply about. Then there is the “ I love to change things.” I have spent my life imagining how it could be better, more effective, more attractive and how can I make that change fast! There is a lot that can be changed and I am finding that pretty exhausting these days. So for the next year one of the challenges will be to “let it be.” That’s totally out of my wheelhouse, just ask my children about rearranging furniture!
I love Christmas at the ranch.
As I look back on the year, I did a decent job on my S things, self care, slow down, scheduling, save money. I have spent time thinking about a lot of things one being getting a face lift this year. Part of me really loves the idea of embracing new technology (you can’t exercise or diet a sagging chin and sagging eyelids away) and part of me sees that as a weird investment. Stay tuned. Would love your thoughts.
Most of the real issues are struggles within ourselves. I need to get back on the gratitude track. We have been healthy this year; we enjoyed great times with friends and family and with each other. I need to “let it be” and enjoy each day at the ranch and lower my planning horizon. My biggest fear is that I will be irrelevant. I should face that and relax.
I will start the New Year doing something I love, hosting New Year’s Day brunch with a group of very interesting people some in their 80’s and 90’s. I try to hang around with folks that I want to be like and to understand how they maintain their vitality. People interaction is a big part of what feeds my soul.
I wish each of you good health and friends, family and work that is meaningful to you in 2016.
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Liz Marchi lives on a ranch in Polson, Montana with her husband Jon. She is the Fund Coordinator for the Frontier Angel Fund and spends a lot of time thinking and learning about entrepreneurs, the economy and Montana’s unique place in the world. She has three daughters and a stepson and daughter and a grandchild. She graduated from Hollins College and is entering the final quarter of life…unless we go into overtime.