Slip Sliding Away

The nights are long, but the years are short: A description I’ve heard referring to parenthood, that I don’t disagree with, but how do I reconcile that same experience as an empty nester? I suppose it is simply a good way to express the feeling that the years fly by for all of us. As I stood at the threshold of 2022, facing a birthday milestone year, I didn’t want to simply let this year pass like so many others, getting to December 31, 2022 and wonder, where in the world did this year go? I didn’t want to let another year slip slide away! So, I’ve set some lofty goals in lieu of the typical New Year’s Resolutions. If you are reading this you have stumbled upon my first goal, to capture by word and photo hiking adventures. I’m going to refer to this as my “Phog,” combining my hobby of photography and this new habit of blogging. I have vacillated back and forth as to whether to make this a public endeavor, but for the sake of accountability I’ve decided for at least now, to venture into this new social arena. Other goals I’m aiming for are to self-publish two books that have sat collecting dust for way too many years in my dining room hutch, continue my Spiritual Direction formation and expand into a new area of ministry for me, and last but not least by any means since it will be the driving force behind this Phog, hike more than 60 miles in 2022. I am hopeful that will be an easy goal and one that will be adjusted as I meet and exceed it. When I reflect on New Year’s resolutions I break them down into three categories: Physical, Intellectual and Spiritual so I guess this isn’t all that different except for the stage I’m living them out on.

Today I took the first steps, literally, for the physical goal toward my (first) 60 miles and the main focus of this Phog. I don’t have to drive far to find great hiking. Today’s hike took us to a local hiking spot, Starkey Park, that the glaciers carved. It included a couple sets of steps to descend and then ascend a steep ravine. I’ll feel that tomorrow.

My hope is to capture with photos this adventure that my hiking buddy and I are beginning together. He already walks greater distances than I do but has agreed happily to join me on these shorter hikes. Today we didn’t let the cool temps or (very) wet paths deter us. Instead, we enjoyed the sights of the creek winding its way through our town on its way to the reservoir in Indianapolis…another great location for hikes. Our steps were cautious as we slipped and slid along our way through the mud; much like I feel as I gingerly slip into a new year.