Happy New Year!

This is one of my favorite times of year since everyone seems to be a bit weary from all of the festivities and equally sobered by the prospects of a new year and new expectations. I like it because the pace is not so frenetic, people are moving more slowly, after having been rushing to accomplish everything that they did over the last month including shopping, traveling, working, planning, you name it. Heck, people are just plain worn out!

It is with this in mind that I have been enjoying reading numerous sources that have extolled the virtues of not keeping in touch, of not reaching for our phones, of not being connected with everything and everyone at every possible moment. Do you really need to check-in at the gym and let your friends know you are there? Does reading or responding to that Twitter feed really make you happier? Or do you feel accomplished in your life because you squeezed in one more task on your to-do list including Zumba, returning unwanted Christmas gifts, or buying unneeded sale items?

Each of us has all of tools that we need with our eyes open to appreciate people and things around us, ears open to appreciate the pleasant sounds of living including children playing and birds chirping, and legs to go walking and just “be” for a bit, not going anywhere in particular. More importantly, we also have arms to hold a door open for someone else, to stop and let someone pass in front of us, and to say please and thank you and to acknowledge that we share our space with those around us. Pull out your earphones and wake up to the people around you!