When, really, is the start of a new year? For some, it is literally the beginning of the year, January 1, while for others, it’s the first day of the new school year. Muslims, Jews and Hindus have their own new year, based on their calendars, and then of course, there
are fiscal years that start either the
first of January, April, July or October.
So, the answer to the question is completely subjective.
A new year for me started in mid-August after we dropped our kids off at college. They each go to a different out-of-state university; my son is a junior and my daughter is starting her freshman year, which means my husband and I are now officially empty nesters. When we returned home minus the two kids we left with, it was Day One of a whole new year, which I’m dubbing “The Year of What’s Next.”
Liberation or Burden?
Andy Richter once said on Conan O’Brien’s SiriusXM Radio show that he thinks there is freedom in being a parent. It sounds counter-intuitive, but his rationale is that because kids’ schedules dictate the lives of their parents, parents don’t have to make plans for themselves, and thus the freedom. Of course, Andy Richter is a comedian and looks at life a bit differently, but he may have a point.
With the kids still at home, I had a prescribed routine for myself and them which focused on keeping them safe, clothed, fed and at the places they needed to be on time. When they were little, I spent much of my time in this routine, but as they got older, my role lessened a bit and I found myself with larger chunks of time on my hands. Now that they are both out of the house, I have more time than ever to fill. Is this a burden or a liberation? To some, like Andy, it’s a burden, but to others it’s quite liberating. That’s what I’m exploring this year.
My Year of What’s Next
Knowing that the rhythm of my days would be different, I thought about how I could create new routines for myself. For example, rather than work from home five days a week, I joined Life Time, both as a place to work out and simply to work. I pack my gym bag and my work bag, leave the house in the morning, hit the gym, and then get to work. My husband and I are learning pickleball together and I’m starting to swim laps.
I also am attending more networking events geared toward helping other women-owned businesses, like the NAWBO Women Ignite event in August and the How Conference in September. Along with meeting other incredible business owners, I am exploring ways I can give back to the community that has supported me for so long, such as joining the board of an organization I’m passionate about.
And, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the upcoming travel my husband and I have. Now that we are not bound by school calendars and sports seasons (at least not as much as we were when the kids were home), we are taking advantage of the time we have to explore new places, some close and others quite far.
The house is quiet and I miss my kids, but I am excited about my Year of What’s Next. It’s a time of exploration and discovery, and I realize I’m incredibly lucky to be able to take advantage of it.
That said, I don’t have it all figured out so if you have suggestions or ideas you think I should pursue, I’d love to hear them. Leave a comment or drop me an email.
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