First The Muddling, Then The Clarity

The beginning of this new year for me is not just about making resolutions, but is centered on trying to gain clarity over what my core values really are – not just muddling through with no clear vision – which, by the way, is what I normally do.
 
I have one advantage though: living in a hurricane-prone area forces me to give thought to what I would take with me as I evacuate to safety. A few of the things I grabbed during the last impending storm surprised me: my late father’s World War 2 duffle bag filled with his uniform, dog tags and letters he received from my mother – his 17-year-old young and lonely war bride. I also snatched an oversized shadow box holding my paternal grandmother’s wedding veil, wedding invitation and her old-fashioned clutch purse. She died at age 42, when my dad was 16. It was the only thing I had that had been hers and I didn’t realize until that moment how much I cherished those scant belongings. 
 
This parsing through my belongings and selecting what meant most helped bring clarity to what I value and what values I’d like to pass on to my children and grandchildren: 
     Respect for family history. 
 
Another lens leading to knowledge of our own core values can be glimpsed by listening and hearing what others say about us. My husband once mentioned to a close friend of mine that he loved my sweetness. My friend burst out laughing. “Iris is a lot of thigs,” she quipped, “but I’d never call her sweet. However, she is resilient, curious and persevering.”
     Resiliency. Curiosity. Perseverance. 
     (More core values to hold close and pass on.)
 
And then I get easily sidetracked – sucked into the vortex of blatant consumerism – of always wanting more – just a little more: 
     A fire pit in my back yard 
     A trip on a river cruise
     Unlimited funds for social media promotion
            
I consciously pull back on my unbridled desires – knowing deep down that another gadget, another vacation, another new and emerging social media medium toy is not the path to my lasting well-being. (However, they sure can make me happy in the moment and that is nothing to be lightly dismissed.) 
 
I begin looking for opportunities to learn and grow that are within my reach. And I slowly realize that one of the things I found so exhausting and frustrating last year was the huge amount of information out there on any subject relating to health. Only problem? It is often conjecture. And it is often conflicting. (For instance, I’m just getting over Covid and still trying to figure out how long I need to quarantine!)  
 
Sometimes we ask and the universe provides what we are seeking. And yesterday it did. It came in the form of an e mail from my friend Dr. Tanya Gold. She has organized a one-day event on health and wellness that will provide us with succinct and cutting-edge information we can use to improve our lives and the lives of those we love. 
 

 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/embracing-wellness-as-a-habit-tickets-472147314327
 
I’m going. And if you live in the Tampa Bay area, I hope to see you there too.
 
Keep Preserving Your Bloom,
 
Iris Ruth Pastor