BRAVERY 52 | List 52
LIST 52 | List the variety of ways you have been brave this year, big and small.
My last Bravery 52 post! Wow, the year went by quickly - and slowly - simultaneously. Along those same lines: I’ve integrated so much of what I’ve learned over the past couple of years into my experience, I’m both exhausted and invigorated.
I chose BRAVE as my guiding word for 2021 - I knew I’d need some support.
I made an iMovie, complete with images and music, to support the life I want to live going forward - and shared it, publicly!
I moved first to Toronto (February) to help my younger son who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Then months later to Southampton (July) where I joined my older son at my newly renovated home.
When life got in the way of my plans, I quickly course-corrected. No complaining allowed! Looking at it as an opportunity. It’s all about attitude after too much time wading in “the messy middle”.
I stopped doing things that didn’t serve me (ASEA water, coaching sessions w/DW, Day in the Life/Week in the Life projects, NaNoWriMo, and unfollowed many!)
Went to Medcan with Cole for our annual health assessments and it appears the pandemic might not have been a choice but it has been healthy for me.
Met with Dr. Qasim Khan as a follow-up to my gall bladder attack (8 Nov 2020) and eventually had it removed on 27 July 2021.
Went to a sleep study (and all follow-ups) after years of avoiding the possibility of sleep apnea - which I have but it’s milder than I thought.
Finished my 100+ day no booze challenge in mid-February. I went 10-days past the planned date.
Received my reformer Pilates machine and now that it’s finally assembled, I use it daily.
With Lynne, I chose materials for the new house interior renovation. I did my best to ignore my inner dialogue: “what if you make the wrong choice?”
Two biopsies to determine whether or not I need to have a hysterectomy. After anxious waiting, I will not. Thank goodness.
Final DQ workshop with the whole group. I decided to take the next session off and apply the lessons of the last three years. No safety net!
Decided to go for it and I got some funky statement glasses. So fun!
I was candid and clear having a few hard yet supportive conversations. I am so tired of games, drama, and bullshit, I can simply no longer participate for my own sanity.
Started taking workshops at the Sacred Pen with a bunch of people I don’t know.
I learned how to effectively use Pomodoro rounds for my projects - no more procrastination, avoidance or fear.
Wrote, hired an editor, and submitted an article to The New York Times Modern Love column. It was rejected. But it was written and submitted! Another promise was kept.
Moved “Hello Monday” and “TGIF” to Instagram.
Moved www.leecurrie.com to Squarespace after submitting everything to blookup.com - trusting that everything would be printed properly and my stories saved.
Did my best to navigate calmly through lots of lockdowns and quarantines, slow openings and contradictory information.
Filled three dumpsters with things that do not light me up. No joy = no place in my home. Even got rid of all the “sentimental” or “OMG that cost so much” items.
Sent Bill’s proper obituary into the Saint John Telegraph-Journal. Fortunately, I got a lot of positive feedback and support. The original was inaccurate, disrespectful, and lazy.
Gave Kiki to Cole even before he knew how to drive a stick shift. That was a bit rattling for both of us!
Took a solo trip to Newfoundland and stayed at Fogo Island and Gros Morne National Park. A profoundly spiritual experience.
I regularly hit “delete” and “unsubscribe” gaining confidence with each click that I wasn’t going to miss anything.
Named my home “Moondance” and there’s a sign on the gate so everyone knows I’m here and I’m a (bit of a) witch.
Started at a new spa, a new hairstylist, and a new chiropractor.
Opened the envelope which contained Bill’s autopsy results. Exhale.
Got my first shot (April), second shot (June), and booster (December) and I got my flu shot, too!
Decided to completely re-do the entire facade of the house. Gone with the fussy Victorian details which will be replaced with timber and stone. It’s a big project for 2022. I can’t wait!
Attended the sold-out Genesis concert in Toronto with Claire - the kids got me tickets as a birthday gift. It was so good, I cried for the first ten minutes! (First crowd experience in over 650 days!)
Back to Dr. Kahn for a colonoscopy. Nasty preparation process but it had to be done!
Again, with Lynne, I chose new living room furniture - and the fabrics. Always a risky proposition but I have faith it’ll all work out and be as beautiful as I imagine. Lucky for me, I am accompanied by a professional who knows my vision and keeps me on a short (if enthusiastic) leash.
After one too many scary-as-hell drives from the city to Southampton, I’ve decided to be safe and stay home from December until I leave for the Caribbean in March!
With yet another new variant, a 5th wave, and Caden still sick, I cancelled our holiday trip to Jamaica - I didn’t want to risk being stuck so far from home. Above and beyond the scary prospect of a new variant, those in charge of protecting the public have regularly refused to make hard choices and step up and do their jobs - there is STILL no consistency for testing or vaccine requirements.
Reading that list the one thing I know I did consistently, in big and small ways, was show up, for myself and for others, throughout the year. It was a year of personal growth with a little contraction just to make sure I was paying attention. I was able to put all of the lessons of the last couple of years, all of the work I’ve done on myself, to the test. I like to think I passed! Onward! I wonder what 2022 will hold?