New Year: Fresh Start

 


Here we are in the first FULL week of the new year.  (Honestly, I don't think Wednesday-Sunday should have really counted for anything.  Although I was busy at work, we are still working in 2024 until the end of business today and quite frankly, it's been so crazy that I feel like we never really moved into a new year.)  Today is the first day back to school. (Unless you are further south in NJ where the snow is falling...in the "north" we are expecting some snow, but nothing like what the south is supposed to get.  How crazy is that?  New year, but the world continues to be an upside down place at times.)  On this gray and cold Monday (which also happens to be Epiphany), I am ready to start fresh.

I am focusing (or at least trying to) on taking care of things that matter and facing the day to day with as much positivity as I can.  You know that's going to be a challenge when I head back into the office tomorrow.  How positive can I be when I go out in the dark and wait for a bus to come get me?  It's been a challenge already as I have found most (if not all) of the remaining fish in the pond have died.  (For reference: https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2025/01/cold-hearted-b.html)  Though I am still heartbroken over it, I have to accept it and move on.  There is no answer as to why what happened happened and I have (mostly) accepted that.  I know that in the spring, the pond will be cleaned and we will start fresh.  Worrying about what might happen after that is pointless.  All I can do is continue to care for them (and their "home") as best I can, say a prayer or two and see what happens.

I also recognize that I need to take care of myself.  As we are often reminded, we cannot care for others if we don't take care of ourselves.  (I'll admit this is a hard one for me.)  To that end, I went to the dermatologist today about a seborrheic keratosis  (go on Google it).  They are a pain in the...well you know the rest...as they are benign, but not all that attractive.  Genetically, I am predisposed to them, so it's basically just deal with it.  However, this particular one was in a place where it was rubbing against my bra strap (I know TMI) and was itching, so I had the PA remove it.  When something bothers you, you should take care of it.  (Actually it's still bothering me, but that's because there's a bandaid over it and it's itching.  The important thing is that I took care of it!) And that's why I WILL find a new dentist in the Poconos so that I can have a check up.  (I have new dental insurance and just got the information so now I am ready to go.)  

Taking care of myself also means taking care of the "things" around me that affect me.  Since I knew we were going to get snow today, I made sure that my car's gas tank was full.  (I also made sure that my son's car was full too.)  And upon thinking about it, while I could have "gotten away with it" for several more weeks, I called my local service station/garage to get an oil change.  I knew that it being a Monday after a long holiday for many (not for me!), that they might not be able to take care of it, but I called and they said they could do it.  (It probably will take a while, but it will be done today.)  Now I can be confident when I drive out to PA that the car is in good shape.  (I hope I haven't jinxed myself by saying that.)

Going off topic here for a minute, but since I was "talking" about the drive to the Poconos, I'd like to give a shout out to the NJDOT for their quick (and tireless work) on reopening Route 80 east BEFORE the New Year.  If you hadn't heard (and this did make the national news), the day after Christmas, a sinkhole opened up on the shoulder and right lane in the Wharton area of NJ.  With Route 80 being a MAJOR highway (running from the very eastern part of NJ all the way to CA), having a section of highway closed down was a NIGHTMARE.  (There are a LOT of trucks that use this interstate.)  The road was opened by the 30th and I can attest to crews working in the cold over the holiday weekend to get it repaired.  I may bitch and moan about the roads and traffic, but I've got to shout out a big THANK YOU to NJDOT for getting this done so quickly and making my life a little less stressful.  (And believe me it would have been INCREDIBLY stressful.)

So as we start the first full week of 2025, let's give ourselves a fresh start.  Focus on care for ourselves, so that we can care for others.  I'm not naive.  I know that 2025 is going to be full of stress and strife, but I am going to try to approach it with love and care, for myself and for as many others as I can.

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