Happy New Year! Hopefully, this coming year will be filled with joy in our relationships. For me, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag so far. My mother woke up several times during the night, so my sleep was not particularly restful. Finding the silver lining … since it was a holiday, I could take a nap this morning once Mom was dressed, fed, and working on word searches! Finding the silver lining will be a priority this year.
It was nice to have some time off at the end of last week and I was able to continue to declutter and reorganize. This may not sound relaxing, but it actually is. I cleared out some of my books, focusing on the collection of fiction I have accumulated. Getting rid of books is always hard for me, but I did go through and set aside books that I will not read again. I have two boxes of books to donate, so that is an accomplishment. This past fall, I went through my “work” books and donated two boxes of books to the library. I still have LOTS of books, but the shelves are now looking tidy and I have hours of reading in which to indulge. I have one more group of books to sort – non-fiction – and plan to get donations together in the next couple of months. I’ve also been reorganizing my closets and letting go of some items that I just don’t need anymore.
A few days ago, I read A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen. I think I read this book before because it seemed familiar. Anyway, it was great to read about the relationship between Bowen and his cat – a stray with charisma. Bowen was fighting addiction and was partway through recovery when he found Bob and the pair were made for each other. It is a heartwarming story that shows the importance of having someone special in your life – even a furry companion! I can say that Oscar and Toby, my cats, have brought such joy to me and I love providing a safe and loving home for them.
Yesterday I started to read book #1 of 2025, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I finished it this morning. This was a short, fun, absurd story about how Earthling Arthur Dent is carried away on a tour of the galaxy by a ragtag group of aliens. Just before Earth is destroyed, Arthur is rescued by his neighbor, who is from another planet but has spent 15 years on Earth. The two end up in a series of adventures, meet several grumpy creatures from other planets, and finally find a new “family” who give them a special place of belonging. It’s a fun book.
So far, 2025 is interesting. I look forward to seeing what comes next and how I can hopefully reduce the stress of 2024, find new opportunities to grow, and engage in activities that I enjoy. I know there will be challenges ahead, but I feel like I am on the right track now and can move forward with a positive spirit.
