Although January hasn’t arrived yet, I am eagerly anticipating its arrival.
an·tic·i·pa·tion an-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən\
a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen, the act of preparing for something
I love the word and the feeling of anticipation…most of the time. Most of the time it is a hopeful excitement. But it can also trigger a negative feeling when remembering something of the past, something unpleasant that you predict might occur again. My anticipation has, at times, turned into apprehension. Although I am excited about January’s approach, so that I can participate in this year’s My January Rest (MJR), I also feel some anxiety for what the month will cost in commitment. For example, the January I ran out of coffee filters and decaf AND didn’t go out for coffee for a month. It was a L O N G month!!!
My January Rest did not use to be “a thing.” It was something I did once–that I liked a lot–then decided to do again. After doing it again, I began to share with others what I was doing, and why I declined invitations, or was going without something that I could afford to purchase. That stirred curiosity in others and a desire in me to participate in this experience with community and My January Rest was born.
Here are some interesting side-effects of going public:
- Public is fun, but there is accountability all around, and extra eyes too.
- I feel an external pressure, that I did not foresee, to do what I have done in the past. Following the past formula is what people are expecting. Yet I know I need to seek the “what” this year’s MJR is to be about, not just do the same old thing or succum to percieved peer pressure.
- Dilemmas are an inherent part of this process. Because I am intuitive, I cannot help that I look at my coffee filters and instinctively calculate I will run out of filters before February of 2015. This causes a chain reaction of thoughts about IF it is ok to buy filters, when normally, I would not purchase them until closer to time to running out. However, I don’t want to stock up to avoid problems, on purpose, nor do I want to allow problems on purpose. This exercise isn’t about martyrdom. Because I have done this for several years, it becomes easier to anticipate problems.
- Surprises…when people share that they have already started MJR in December while others have shared that they have integrated pieces of MRJ ongoing throughout the year. That is what I have found for myself.
- People that I never suspected, know about it…which brings me back to public and extra eyes…fun and scary.
Fun and scary. Here we go.
I am in the process of defining what this year’s MJR will look like. What I choose, I and my family, have to live with (for better or worse!!). Before the first of the year, I will disclose the plan.
We all long for rest in this frenetic-paced world and MJR gives some perspective and space to find rest. Each person can design their own Rest, baby steps or full engagement. Will you consider joining in My January Rest 2015 in some way?
Merry Christmas and blessings to you and yours.
Uncovered 
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