As for milestones of the year we are exiting, several come to mind, yet three stand out as the most substantial.
In order of occurrence but not significance, those three are the trip to Catalina with Tommy, My 1st multiple-day visit to Jikoji Zen Center, and my travels to and within the boundaries of my friend’s home in Boulder.
Tommy and my relationship was at a breaking point, and his gesture of inviting me to join him on Catalina gave us the much-needed place and space to reboot and reconnect.
The first retreat at Jikoji cracked the surface of longing for and interest in shifting my focus into a more profound realm of awareness than I’d acquired through several years of guided meditations. It opened the door to a level of consciousness and awareness that led me to the next event in this 3-way tie. Boulder.
The experience in Boulder blew that aforementioned open door entirely off its hinges. That didn’t just shake my foundation; it pulled it and the illusions of walls entirely apart in a beautiful and awakening way. My return later in the year only helped reinforce that understanding while extending it to the broader concept of ’self,’ consciousness, connection, eternity, and the gift that even the most difficult experiences can be when taken into context of the opportunity to have had any.
A close fourth is the decision made in late 2022 to take a leave of absence that I remain on to this day. Stepping out of the demands of a working routine allowed me to grow, to reconnect with my son, daughter, and wife, and to explore and examine the complex nature and feelings behind the passing of Linda and the role I played in each of our paths, choices, and experiences. To be home with Jennifer, further establishing and validating the value we place in the time we have and the space we share.
The remaining highlights span beyond a specific incident or event. They encompass aspects of the past 12 months related to people, places, and things, yes, but it runs deeper than that.
In no particular order, the remaining six highlights are these.
• Relationships - I have wonderful positive relationships with my wife and kids. I have made and maintained wonderful friendships that span the range of decades to months. In a world where many might have little or no support networks, I’m blessed with a wide array of high-speed fiber options.
• Health - As far as I know, I don’t have anything seriously significant or challenging to deal with. Yet. I have and will likely again, but until that time, it’s a highlight not to have that to contend with.
• Home - I love our home. I really love it. Moving back in was a challenge, and I had my reservations. What we did with it, how we made it our own while honoring Linda and our kid's legacy, my time here since then has been poetic and poignant. I sit in wonder weekly as I recognize how comfortable I am here.
• Potential - I’ve got options to pursue areas of interest and income that can ‘feel my soul.’ If I end up taking a position to make ends meet, it’ll be a choice based on what I want my free time to be put towards, not something done because I can’t do otherwise.
• Experiences - The year has been filled with travel, visiting friends, family gatherings, romantic getaways, and ad-hoc day trips. I went to numerous concerts, wineries and dinners.
• Gratitude - I have come to appreciate so much more about every day's nuances and ’tiny moments’ merely by having made time each day to reflect on the day’s nuances and ’tiny moments.’.
2023 was the best year since 2022, ultimately the best since 2021. I have no idea what 2024 will bring, but assuming I make it through (and even if I don’t), I expect nothing but more highlights, challenges, growth, and milestones to come.