Falling Softly

New Year, new stumbles.

Somehow, in the last years of his life, my dad learned how to fall.  He got a lot of practice.  Once he toppled backward in a restaurant, missing all the tables and chairs, and lifting up his head to fall lightly onto his back.  He wasn’t rattled at all, and went on to order lunch.  Another time, he missed the step at the ice cream place, and went down.  When I tried to grab him, he took me along for the ride.  He held up the ice cream so it wouldn’t drop.

He also fell more than a few times in his bathroom, without injury. 

As the new year begins, falling softly feels like a good goal. 

Try things; fall softly. 

Step out, wobble, and fall softly. 

Take a chance and fall. Save the ice cream.

This time of year, there’s lots of advice.  Set intentions instead of making resolutions.  Find a way to remind yourself, in February and July and October, what you hope to do.  Get a template for your goals.  Or, get professional help.  ChatGPT can help set your 2024 goals.   

Some of this is familiar.  For ordinary days, I use a habit tracker, built into my still-on-paper calendar.  (I love a paper calendar, so I can see the big picture, and I can also put it away at the end of the day.)  Having a star word is a spirit-filled nudge toward reflection during the year. 

If there’s a word (or two) for the new year, falling softly feels right to me. 

Falling softly also feels like failing softly.  Try things, learn from the clunkers, and don’t get stuck.  Avoid the tar pit of endless rumination. 

How about you?  What word or phrase will guide you in 2024? 

PS.  Would you like a star word?  Let me know and I can send you one, either in the mail or as a digital picture of your word.