Conversation: 2024 as an open book and what you're thinking about
This is a space for women to turn to other women. Learn from others’ stories. Notice life phases of our sisters. Teach our daughters.
My mom passed away two years ago from pancreatic cancer, discovering too late that her sensitive stomach was signaling more than too much red pepper in the cauliflower pasta. To be honest, becoming her caregiver was a decision I made for myself. I couldn’t fathom not caring for a woman who had mothered me even from afar by living her life by example. I’m grateful too that I have a sister who joined me in the caregiving because we’re just sillier when we’re together.
Like, my mom was a stickler for cleanliness. Actually, “stickler” doesn’t truly describe it. I kid you not, mom would get on a ladder to dust the exposed wooden beams inside their home’s 20’ high ceilings. She’d pull the sofas out from the wall to vacuum behind them—every week.
My sister and I would joke that we may not clean like mom, but we knew what the standard was!
So, when mom became ill, we decided to honor her by scouring her 1-bedroom apartment. Visibly fill a bucket with suds for the bathroom floor, pull every piece of furniture from the wall to vacuum and dust the floorboards. Mom sat on the sofa in the center of her little place, laughing, lifting her legs up as my sister zipped by with the trusty Hoover. Eyes sparkling.
Does it sound crazy? It was a way to acknowledge what was important to her, to be of service to her, on her terms.
Here’s the thing: Mom never made me feel like my place wasn’t clean enough. Her values were her values. She just lived them: No strings attached.
So, that’s my 2024 phrase for the year: No strings attached. Let me live my values on my sleeve with no pressure or expectation that I’ve got the best way for anyone other than myself. And “no strings attached” means I want to continuously learn, change my mind more because the world is wide and there’s lots I don’t know.
(Notice I did not write, keep the house cleaner!)
2024 is an open book. What thoughts do you have for the new year?
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