Despite my philosophical issues with using a calendar as a guide, just like everyone else I still often take the opportunity of its change to review. After all, a year is a reasonable period to reflect upon, and with only around thirty of them left, I better damn well pay attention to life.

Today, more than ever, I feel more receptive to the growth that accompanies learning. That’s because it’s only January, yet so far this year I’ve accomplished more things valuable to my soul (whatever that is) than the first forty-eight. There is nothing truly profound about learning how to ski or returning to the Spanish that since high school I’ve wanted to continue. What’s more important is the lack of pretense, the new absence of barriers. However imaginary they always have been, they were there in my mind. But now, my reality says those things don’t compute, much less exist.

What has changed within me? Is it my awareness of the past, or am I truly more honest with myself now? That is still unclear, and a worthy subject for meditation. At least I’m willing to ask the question, and I’m open to its answer. More change is coming. I can feel it.