Writing EDD 1/4/2016 — New Year

It’s supposed to be the time to set goals, and think about the past year and how to make this next one better. I’ve set resolutions before, written them down, and tried to keep them, for a month, or maybe just a couple of weeks, then I always just go back to living. So, instead of goals, this is how I want to live this year. Quietly. Sit more often and slow my breath, listening to the noises, then sound at the back of my throat, then nothing. Stand up straight, shoulders down and less time hunched over my desk. Less hunching in general, less looking down at my phone, or bathing in the pre-sleep blue light of the iPad. More sounds of footsteps on trails, my feet and the lighter, more energetic feet of my kids. More talking to people in person, more arguing about politics, but only between heavy breaths on a run because it’s hard to get too worked up when you’re sharing in the same suffering. More holding hands with my wife, more kisses on sleep-warmed cheeks, and more hugs through that beautiful stinky kid morning breath. Keep writing every day, every damn day, and hopefully get better at it, and maybe even come up with an idea for something longer, a book, maybe. Smell like the ocean when it’s warm, and track sand across the floor, not necessarily get better at surfing, just surf more. Spend more time in the sun than in the office. Climb mountains with my kids, and run so much with them that we cross that line where I don’t have to hold back for them, and they can wait at the top for me.