With the dawning of a new year, I look back on the past one with a sense of wonder. I suppose that’s not uncommon, but 2024 was as rewarding as it was challenging.
Ten weeks into the year, I experienced a bout of vertigo that left me lying in a darkened room trying my best not to move for the better part of the day. The tilt-a-world sensation would last for ten weeks, although, thankfully, less acutely for the most part. So, I was able to function despite the dizziness that set in whenever I looked up or down. I tried hard to do as little of either as possible as I worked, took my pups on our daily two- to three-mile off-leash walks, and tried to manage my life.
Sometimes, the worst circumstances can prove to be life boons. A brain scan–which the vestibular physical therapist helping me to get the wandering ear crystal to return to home base insisted on–showed that I’d suffered a mini-stroke within a few days of the vertigo’s onset. I had no clue. But I was sure grateful that I could initiate actions to prevent a more significant stroke, steps I would have never known to take.
The brain scan was just one of a battery of medical tests that in the end revealed no reason for the vertigo. Or the mini-stroke for that matter. I had to look elsewhere. Could self-imposed stress play a role? That was certainly a possibility. So, it was certainly time to make a change, a notion that a friend echoed a week or two later.
“It’s already done,” I said. “It’s all about priorities.”
I had realized that you don’t have to work your way into a shift. You can just shift, a notion that applies to everything from health to writing.
The consequences of not making necessary changes were reinforced in the fall with the death of one of my oldest friends who had lost control of her life years prior. The opposite was reinforced when the early detection of lung cancer in a friend who had survived lymphoma 30 years prior led to the new cancer’s complete eradication.
All three experiences reinforced my determination to live a life of purpose, make a difference, connect with others, and be happy. So, life will be shifting. Not a lot, at least for now, but enough. I’m excited to see what this year brings.
So, here’s to a healthy, safe, happy, and productive 2025.
May you seize the new year and realize your goals, especially when it comes to writing you’ve always wanted to do.
Cheers,
Linden
And you are helping Dementia Man write his book about the journey through that neurological world.
Happy and HEALTHY New Year!
Yes, I sure am, Sam! That’s its own adventure, one I’m excited about and proud to be involved with. Thanks for trusting me.
Here’s to getting it done this year.