Evolution not Revolution

It’s confession time again dear readers.  Despite my intention to write this blog as an outlet for creativity and inspiration, I confess to suffering from wisdom fatigue.

I don’t know about you but it seems that at this time of year we are inundated with sayings, quotes, memes, cards and all manner of social media posts that are designed to help us close the book on the year that was and set new goals for the coming year.  My Facebook feed has been overflowing with encouragement and I’ll admit to indulging in the odd emotional feel good moment from some of it.

There are quotes about endings and new beginnings.  There are sayings about closing the book on the last 365 pages and opening the next 365.  Wait a minute – there are 366 pages this year – oh God, what AM I going to do with that extra page!!  There are extracts from Ted Talks that you should have watched during the year so that you would have some idea of where you’re going in life.  There are articles from writers just like me extolling the virtues of planning.  I even received a very thoughtful gift from my daughter for Christmas called “The Life Plan” which is a beautifully illustrated guide on how to write a structured plan for living your best life.

All of this is great and I have no doubt that such reflection will help us all make the most of the next 12 months and not waste a moment of it.  Today the question rolling around in my head is when did doing nothing become a waste of time?  I have long believed in the virtues of nothingness.  I have spent the last 6 months doing precious little beyond living mindfully in the present.  Although I did change my whole approach to life, the universe and my place in it.  So perhaps saying I was “doing nothing” is a bit of a misnomer.

But, as one of my friends put it very eloquently to me once, there does come a time when you get over yourself!  One of my favourite quotes is on a magnet on my fridge:

Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional!

Yes friends, I have come to the conclusion that I have to exercise my options and grow up.

Not a lot mind you – just a little bit.

There has been this dream like quality to my life over the last period which had nothing to do with laziness (a totally judgemental concept) and everything to do with evolution (far more appealing).  The much used analogy of metamorphosis sheepishly springs to mind as I transition from being a corporate slave to creating a harmonised work life; from being the mother of dependent children to the mother of grown-ups; from being the task completer to being the fun producer.

There have been so many moments in the last 6 months that have brought me to this point and thank goodness I’m still evolving.  There is chaos and confusion, excitement and fear, judgement and forgiveness.  There are friends who have been there through all this with their gentle support and encouragement.

Then there has been the inspiration.  Tellingly, most of all that end of year brouhaha has only served to increase my wisdom fatigue.  The best source of inspiration has been revisiting a long held practice of mine to reflect on what “Being Kylie” loosely looks like by this time next year (without wishing my life away of course) and come up with one word (yes you’re only allowed ONE) that sums this up.  I’ve done this for the last few years with great effect.  That word becomes the anchor that keeps me in check through whatever the universe throws at me.

No, I won’t share my word of the year with you here although if you look closely you should be able to guess.  I will tell you if you ask me in person.  Suffice to say, it will be the theme by which I try to live my life this year.

It will keep me honest with myself and make sure the evolution continues.