The start of a new year often brings goals, resolutions, hopes, themes…at least for some. I don’t find myself in this group as I find myself more likely to be someone who is on notice each day.
While some might believe I’m on notice due to life choices, daring escapades, living life as an explorer, and more, I’m not looking at being on notice as a negative.
Being on notice typically has a “you’ve been warned” connotation. I guess maybe I’ve been warned, or maybe it’s that I’ve been made aware!
The lessons learned when slowing down was forced upon me, when I walked through the grocery store with the awareness that others didn’t know what I was facing and I in turn didn’t know their battles, when dreams seemed farther off but so worth fighting for, when simple moments and small victories were suddenly big — these lessons put me on notice like never before.
I think I’ve long been a noticer. (“Noticer” is in the Scrabble Dictionary, so yes, it’s a word!) My noticing skills have been heightened in recent years. I’m guessing cancer had something to do with that. While I’m not facing big health issues at the moment, I’m still embracing — to the best of my abilities — the lessons learned while the battle was constant.
Noticing colors, sounds, tastes, smiles, and even pain became things to look forward to and things to look for.
It does not bother me to end a sentence with a preposition. Life is too short to get caught up in that for me. It’s acceptable in casual conversation and we are friends, right.
The italicized thoughts are worth noticing. While I have worked hard to choose words On Purpose (thus, the title of my blog) and I worked hard to complete educational goals in language and I work with a literacy non profit, it is worth noting, that sharing stories, sharing life, sharing the beauty and the pain that we experience is of note.
I’m soon approaching EIGHT years since cancer was written into my story. Crazy!
The life that has been lived in these eight years has been one of note. I’ve cried for joy and with sorrow. I’ve hiked a glacier and through The Narrows of Zion National Park, I’ve welcomed four grand children into our family and said an earthly good-bye to a parent. I’ve been a noticer to different languages and cultures, and continue to work on noticing what brings joy to others.
I encourage you in the New Year and in EACH NEW DAY to notice
–the breath in your lungs
–the colors of the grass, trees, birds, flowers
–the eyes of those you pass
–opportunities you have to lighten someone’s load
–the song you hear being whistled
–the aches in your joints as you are still here to feel them (that’s my perspective, anyway)
–ways you can learn by listening to the lessons of others
I guess I may be one setting a New Year’s goal after all. My goal is to continue to live a life being on notice each day of 2023.
dianegratopp 