I’m still in a region best described as “taiga”, which is one notch “warmer” than the tundra. I’m enjoying my deep-freeze days with two of my best offline friends, and as always, the days are slipping by too fast. (Thus, I realize that I’ve been slow in replying to comments and getting to read the posts of others, and it’ll be that way for another week or so, for which I apologize.)
However, I Thought I’d take a few minutes and share some Thoughts with the WordPressverse… (smiling).
Some of these thoughts may be jumping the gun by a few days, but I can’t be sure that I’ll be able to blog about them at the appropriate time, and blogging about them afterward once I’m settled back home might be a mite awkward, so…
This year, I can almost palpate the impending close of one year and the dawning of another. This year, it’s not sneaking up on me.
I’ve been waiting for this for a while. I remember last year how many were cursing 2016 as their Year From Hell. Although that wasn’t my experience, I could sympathize.
This year, I can Empathize. My 2017 will be given a boot in the arse on the way out the door.
But that’s neither here nor there. I find it important to look behind to determine where I’ve been and get my bearings in the present, for the present is rooted in the past; my past gave rise to my present, and my present is a result of my past. Despite being a snapshot in time, it’s not frozen in time. Time is always in motion, and the present is no different.
Although the future has not yet arrived, it’s not fruitless or useless to look forward. I never believed in jeopardizing one’s survival and enjoyment of today in the interest of planning for what may or may not happen tomorrow, but I do accept the reality of the benefits of delayed gratification, anticipating future potential consequences of today’s decisions, and so on.
What does all of this have to do with my Asperger’s/autistic neurotype?
Oh…right…must get back on topic and try to tie this in a bow that may or may not come undone. (Grin.)
My Asperger’s/autistic operating system came with a sparkling OverThink app, a utility that allows (compels) me to weave the extraneous threads together into something cohesive and unified, of which my mind can finally sense a resolution and make sense. This involves piecing together the past, present, and future, and packaging it into something shiny and presentable to the rest of my brain.
And of course, there must be symbolism. Everything, for me, must have meaning, one more significant than what appears on the surface. Something that took cognitive power to perceive and understand. Something that maybe not all can see. I crave inside jokes with myself. I’m weird that way.
The closing of one year and the opening of another carry a symbolism for me that might not be so unique, as it’s widely shared among much of the world and any walk of life, but it’s significant enough that it would understandably be something shared.
I feel an approaching sense of renewal and cleansing, much like a reset button. And therein lies a deeper symbolism: every year for the past several, I’ve ventured out of the tropical desert and into Deep-Freeze Territory where the daylight is precious and fleeting. Why do I do this, journey so far out of my element?
I think it’s to keep my body and brain guessing, keep them on their toes, keep them at the ready for anything. It’s like clicking on a massive reset button for the year. The point of traveling to a location and settling into a routine for one week out of the year that has nothing to do with my “normal” life is exactly the point: it has nothing to do with my normal life. I can decompress, recharge, enjoy changes of scenery and pace. I even engage in unusual (for me) activities of mild excess.
Afterward, I come home and thaw out with a renewed appreciation for the warmth (even if there’s humidity involved), my adulthood-nuclear family, and my hometown. I’m ready to face the New Year. I’m ready to jump back into my life and play catch-up on all I’ve missed (which yes, includes my WordPress family!)
For now, I’m both at peace with frigid windchills and warmhearted friends, and also busy with the process of wiping slates clean, packing up the hardship that was 2017, and turning my face forward toward the uncertainty and unbroken ground that awaits.
Bring on 2018! ❤
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Where did you go? Are you enjoying yourself?…
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Hi! 😊. I’m in Minnesota (lol) 😁. Yep, having a lot of fun 🎉. I’ll be back on the evening of January 3, so I’ll be able to catch up more completely after that 👍🏼 (I’m trying now, too, but it’s been a bit hectic here, although in a good way 😊) 💞. How’ve you been? 💜💜
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lol such a small world… the way you described frigid temps I thought maybe you went to alaska. I am stateline wisconsin/il and yes it is frickin cold!!!!! I sent you a message on wp i think the other day…im not good with it still…do you have a facebook? If you do and are comfortable adding me my name is grace fullnot. Enjoy your trip! Talk more when you get home I hope 🙂
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You could probablt have described Iceland where I currently am, too. It has tundra and I’m sure taiga parts as well, if I look it up.
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Cool! I would really love to visit there 🤗💗
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Hiya! Oh wow, small world indeed! My partner grew up in Tomah, WI 😁❤️. Was a 9-1-1 dispatcher for Juneau county, WI. So cool! I’m so happy to add you on FB! My profile pic is the cowgirl silhouette with a sunset backdrop; I’ll add you as soon as I get back to the place I’m staying tonight 💙💜💙
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I hate the cold!
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Hehe I used to, too! So much! It was downright painful 😖. But only in the last couple years I’ve started to like it, although only for about a week or so lol 😉💓💓
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You’re a better person than me. I’m going to try to tolerate it. You’ve inspired me!
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Hehe cool! 😁👍🏼. Yeah I realized winter is pretty cool when I realized how few people were out and how quiet it was. It’s like I had the world to myself for a bit 😊❣
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I’m really trying. The cold kills germs and there are no ticks to get Ted. 🤓
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Yeah! 😊. There’s a silver lining in almost everything 👍🏼💟💟
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Enjoy your trip and your recharge… also enjoy that snow… We won’t have that here anymore… : ( twice in one year though would be too much for Texas…
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Thank you! 😁😁. I saw on my mobile weather app that it might snow in San Antonio again! But I don’t know how much or how likely 💙. We shall see, eh? 😊😊
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Everyone was saying for Christmas but it was too warm… It is pretty cold out now and it has been raining off and on all day… so maybe… : )
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Cool! I’ll bring some back with me 😉😂. (Last year when I came back from MN, we got down to 19 degrees F in San Antonio lol 😂😂) 😊
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haha… Leave the cold there this time… : )
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Lol 😁💓. I’ll do my best lol 😊👍🏼❤️
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It sounds like you are all set for a good new year! I hope all goes well for you!
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Thank you, friend! Likewise! 😊💗🌺
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The only time I went to dallas. They got hit with freezing rain..and everything shut down for a few hours….same with McCarran airport in vegas…even if I try I can’t get away from the weather
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Omg 😳😳. Yep, that sounds about right ❄️💗💗
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Enjoy Minnesota and I’ll catch up with you in new year.
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Thank you! Have a lovely NY and I’ll be catching up more then, too 😊😊💓
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OMG! So close to South Dakota, I’m squeeing! Also smiling at the familiar weather. I’m in Denver now, but will be back in Sioux Falls, probably just after you depart. Heh. I love winter! (And no, they don’t force us to claim this in South Dakota!) It’s a visible renewal, just as you’ve described so beautifully. Love you lots! Mwah! 💜💜😘😍🙃
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Omg! 😁😁. Denver RULES; I love that town 🎉🎊🎉. Winter rocks! I used to hate it, but now that it’s a novelty, I like it! For about 10 days lol 😂. Love you bunches, Wiser Sister! 😍. Kisses!! 😘💗😘💗😘
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Let’s plan our first face to face in Denver! Doable? Mwah!!
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Sweet Mother Earth, that would ROCK!! OMG 😀 How long will you be there? I’ll try to make it my next trip!! As soon as I can save up lol 😉 But yes, I would LOVE to do that!! 😀 😀 ❤ ❤
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I’d like to go home NOW but not until tomorrow, which was a compromise. 😁 Woohoo!!! They have Uber AND Lyft in Denver!! I’m so mobile here it’s ridic!! Yay!!! Mwah!!
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That’s paradise girl! 😘😘. Maybe we can meet there in the summer or fall? I know I’ll need a good road trip by then, gives us something to look forward to 😁💟💟
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(Jumping up and down and spinning.) Translation: Hell yeah! 💜
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I’m jonesing for something like that 😁👏🏼. So do you plan to be there in the summer? 💟💟
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I think I know where you are coming from, feeling similar myself. Had a lovely Christmas with my daughter, who was home on leave, in fact the nicest I’ve had for years. Also I just got this video on my YouTube feed and thought you might like it too – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5qQ4PeQyc8
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I’m so glad you had a nice Christmas! That’s really cool 😍🎄🎄. Thank you *so* much for sharing the video! 🤗💞💞
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I like relative cold of the mid/southern North Island Aotearoa New Zealand kind. Yours is too close to absolute cold for me.
I too come with an OverThink app, although I wouldn’t say it’s sparkly, and it tends to never reach final conclusions, and frequently takes over what should be more pressing needs. This is especially true when trying to convert symbols (which is what my mind thinks with) into words I can formulate into speech or written form. It’s like trying to use a foreign language where one is unable to pick up the nuances necessary to communicate effectively. So there’s a continual running commentary on how I should communicate my experience to others, with numerous tentative possibilities, but never coming firmly down on one possibility.
Which is why this comment has taken 38 minutes to compose 🙂
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Oh, but thank you so much for composing it! 😊❤️. Such a wonderful comment 👏🏼👍🏼. I really appreciate your taking the time! And I really appreciate your encouraging words, too 💙. I can absolutely relate 👏🏼💟💟
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you so much for the reblog, Michael! 👍🏼😊💟
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awww hope you have a lovely break.I love the cold x
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Thank you so much, girl! 😍. It’s been wonderful so far 👍🏼💓💓
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5 words …… You are a great woman
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Awww! Thank you bunches, my brother 😀 5 more words – The feeling is very mutual! 😉 ❤ ❤
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Reblogged this on International Badass Activists.
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Thank you so kindly, Eve 👍🏼😊❤️
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
SHE HAS A TAIGA BY THE TAIL? 🙂
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Thank you so, so much, Jonathan ❤ ❤
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