Tradition

I happen to be prone to occasional exaggeration. Once, years ago, while telling someone that I loved puzzles, I said that "I do at least a half dozen a year." Well! My partner Nick happened to overhear and could not let that exaggeration go unchecked. He's been teasing me about it ever since and it has become my goal to do far more than a half dozen per year.

Completing puzzles truly does bring me joy, but even more than that, I love having them around, on a table for anyone who needs to busy their hands. Guests immediately have a place to sit and something to focus on. People trying to work out a difficulty in their relationship have a place to put their eyes while they gather their thoughts. Kids who seem to be endlessly bored have a never ending opportunity. My current favorite puzzles are the Large Format Ravensburger 750 - they are easy enough for the kids but challenging enough to take a week. My all time favorites are from Liberty - each one is a work of art. 

Read
"Enough is as good as a feast." -Sir Thomas Malory

Damn. That quote hits hard. I mean for real. Just let it sink in a bit. Enough is as good as a feast. I don't like to do budgeting or keep track of my finances. I do it (mostly) but I don't typically enjoy it. I'm trying to change my relationship with money this year and it's requiring me to take a hard look at how I view it. My financial goal for 2023 is to "Be a person who is creatively thrifty and finds joy living within a generous budget." In my active search for financial learning that fits my abundance mindset I came across this excellent article by Morgan Housel, "The Art and Science of Spending". It has so much to dig deeply into but the bit that struck me most was the idea that "Rather than using money to build a life, your life is built around money." It's a great article - long but great! I narrated it if you would rather listen to it than read it.

Family
Last January Nick was in a car accident that nearly ended his life. This January I have been feeling incredibly grateful. In spite of the months of recovery, the fact that he will never be physically the same again, the toll it took on our plans and daily lives - we are better for it. It feels weird to say that but in my mind it is unequivocally true. Our family is stronger. Our love is deeper. And I am grateful.