unfuck 2016
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. ~Wayne Dyer
"Take this fucking boot!" Those were the first words I spoke to another human this New Years Day morning, as I pulled up to the trail and unexpectedly saw my stress fracture hero (aka the girl who loaned me her boot and crutches for an undetermined amount of healing time) get out of her car. There were about ten of us, and we all had a good laugh through the hellos, GPS watch beeps, and car door slams. I couldn't have imagined a better coincidence - nor a better phrase, for that matter - to lead me into the rest of 2017; and I knew that this morning was going to be a good one. I was about to go run.
I leashed Murray Dog and hopped on the trail to get a little time on the dirt before teaching the New Year’s Day class at Soul, and within a few minutes, my feet settled into a rhythm. It wasn’t much longer before my thoughts followed suit. They were doing this reminiscent dance of the previous twelve months and the effect this particular stretch in time has had on the world. The glaringly obvious theme? Fuck 2016. Since George Michael’s death on Christmas Day, I’ve seen or heard this phrase in various iterations (the most notable and amusing being on a pair of New Years Eve party glasses), and I get it. BELIEVE ME, I get it. This year has been a series of chaotic, life-changing events in the most smack-you-over-the-head, suck-the-air-from-your-lungs, and turn-your-world-upside-down way that “Fuck 2016” would be an attitude I could adopt, and it would be easily understood by those in my circle. Except that it’s not me. It almost was, but the second that phrase escaped my lips - the second I felt myself slipping into the mainstream mindset that so strongly goes against my nature - I made the decision that that asshat of a year would be a launchpad for magical things to come. I decided that I would embrace each of those experiences and view them as my own little concatenation of lessons that will help me evolve into something better. Something that lets me connect more strongly with those around me and bring a little more light to their lives.
It only took four short miles to set what feels like the most important intention in my 40ish years on this earth plane, and as I exited the trail head, I felt satisfied that, with that accomplished, I now had a fresh mindset to prepare my lesson for class. I had three hours and a January 1 date on the calendar. This impending set of words should have been obvious, right? I mean, normally, this time of year, we are blasted from all angles with all the words on creating and sticking to New Years resolutions, and it would be easy to string together, yet, another piece to add to the mix. I could have a list of tips on how to keep your commitment to yourself whipped together in a matter of minutes and be done. I tried to do it. More than once. Okay, more than twice. Okay… more than three times, but I just couldn’t. The thing is, I don’t really do resolutions, so why in the name of my yoga mat would I try to encourage others to do so? It would be drab. Uninspired. Banal. These are the things I was fighting with myself about until finally I decided that instead of a not-so-brilliant “how-to” dialogue on keeping resolutions, I will leave you with this: Rather than cursing the bad moments or wishing them away, show up for them. Be in them. Allow them to teach you. Allow them to strengthen you. Allow them to shape you into the best fucking version of yourself you can possibly be.
