Filling The Piggy Bank Of Life
With a new calendar year upon us, that means resolutions galore. I too was someone who would create resolutions, rarely following them all the way through. Some of have stuck, but far more have fallen off.
After reading books and articles on goals and resolutions, I have learned two key elements: 1) It is important to close the books on 2022 in order to create space for 2023. By doing something physical such as taking a deep breath and exhaling it all out, going for a midnight run, a polar plunge or writing in your journal and closing that book for good, all of these acts a great ways to put an end to the year. 2) There are three buckets to life, how we fill them is up to us.
I’m Giving Each Bucket Its Own Name And Collectively Calling Them “The Piggy Bank Of Life."
Each bucket is filled with things that bring joy, happiness, love, compassion, kindness and empathy to myself, friends, family and community (local and global). Sometimes what is filled in one may spill into another. That is what I love about this concept. Individual or collective, it all goes into the same piggy bank.
Bucket 1- VITALITY
Vitality is filled with things that will bring personal growth and nourishment to the body, mind and spirit. Examples include, but not limited to:
proper nutrition and exercise
more regeneration- meditation, constructive rest, vacation, retreats
structured and unstructured alone time to sit with my thoughts
continued weekly therapy
playing guitar, snowboarding, hiking and wandering aimlessly
Bucket 2- CONNECTIONS
Connections is the power to be fully present for myself or with someone else. Spending less time in front of a screen and more time face to face (when applicable). What this means to me:
inviting friends/family from out of state to Boston for a visit
more phone calls and hand written notes
setting up social gatherings with friends who are near by
road tripping to places I’ve never been
walking in nature, swimming in the ocean, feeling the sand between my toes, backcountry camping
sitting on my cushion
Bucket 3- CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions are what I can give back to the community. This means more than just a monetary donation to organizations that are important to me. It also includes:
sitting next to a friend in need
having conversations around difficult topics such as politics, workplace harassment, race, gender and identity
standing up for causes such as immigration, health care and accessibility
donating whole blood and platelets
creating more content in the form of written word and video
While writing this piece, several ideas began to pop in my head about which bucket to begin with first. There are many things I want to do and people to visit and ways to contribute. No matter where I begin, I think it's a win-win.
2023 is going to be a great year! I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
be well-
