I used to declare a title for each year. A sort of manifestation of my intent so that I could be intentional about my actions. The year might be called the year of acquisition or the year of efficiency or the year of travel. There was the usual mockery from the ex and kids in a good natured way. A sort of Dad is being dad again. When my divorce occurred and life got upended that naming practice was stalled. This year I have reignited the tradition to declare that 2025 is the year of closing loose ends. I am in a renaissance, a rebirth of my intention to live deliberately. What that requires is an honest look at my life and asking a simple question, is this working? If that answer is yes then double down and concentrate efforts. IF that answer is maybe then that thing, whatever it is, needs to be cut off. I don’t have time for maybes or it could be or it might be. That requires a NO and a marshaling of efforts to the yes areas of my life.
What has brought about this year of closing loose ends? My life partner for the past 8 years decided to end treatment and enter hospice. She has been the epitome of courage by fighting for her life every day with dignity and determination. Last year the realization took place that the treatment was becoming worse than the disease. With incredible fortitude she decided to say no more because she determined that being sick was not as bad as getting sick daily. She was tired of the loose end. She was tired of not getting an answer to the question of is it working or will it work. She told the doctors that she was taking control of her life. I have had a front row seat to this onslaught on a human being. She has decided to exercise the free will to finish the race driving her life herself instead of being a passenger. I think that choice to finish life with your hands gripping the steering wheel of your own determination is fundamental to human existence. The decision to stop the treatment was a huge step toward closing a loose end.
We are determined to close this chapter with as much determination, intention and dignity that we can muster. We are going to face the unknown with the knowledge that 2025 is a year that we finish things. So we hold on and scream into the void, “bring it on!”
Albert R. Hartley
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