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Callie R. Feyen's avatar

This is my favorite January essay of all time. I am right there with you.

Also, I'm laughing so hard. I feel like you and I have reached the, "sitting on the porch shaking our heads sipping on lemonade" stage of life. And I want a "I've life hacked all the life hackers" t-shirt. So, so funny Tresta. I am always in great company when I read your work.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

We have a whole wardrobe of t shirts we need to make 🤣

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Danielle Avila's avatar

I loved all of this, Tresta. "Proportional anxiety"- for the anxious among us, that is a good word. :) I have also been enjoying reading others' lists while not having any list of goals or accomplishments or anything else myself, but I am at peace with that! Hoping for favor from editors and an enriching writing (and living) year ahead for you. Thank you for sharing these words today.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Thank you Danielle ❤️

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Penny Chamberlin's avatar

You’ve had a busy life and now you are in a rural setting you need to relax in. Then after getting ready to move, the actual move had to be exhausting. Then came December, new granddaughter, celebrations, new traditions; you need to give yourself permission to take a break😍. And God is still with you every step! Love you sweet niece 😘

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Aimee Guest's avatar

Enjoyed this whole post and resonate with all of it. I’ve come to the conclusion the last few years that we don’t have to do a lot to try to intentionally “change” ourselves, God does a good job of making us more of who we are meant to be through the life-y life that we are already living.

Jealous of the 5 grandkids!

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Tresta Payne's avatar

Yes, the life-y life. The whole sanctification process is one great elongggggated “new you”!

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Jenna Brack's avatar

This is a great phrase — proportional anxiety. I need to adopt it ☺️

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Tresta Payne's avatar

It applies to so many things. I love (and need often) a good perspective check!

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Megan Willome's avatar

Yes, I can tell you're turning 50 (says this almost 55-year-old).

Please keep your long and delusional lists coming.

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Tresta Payne's avatar

You can count on me

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Melanie Bettinelli's avatar

I love the idea of proportional anxiety.

And am very much in favor of taking breaks from writing whenever you need them and forever long. I've come to trust that they are needed.

I got pneumonia for my 50th birthday-- that was fun. It curtailed any possibility of a celebration-- not that we'd planned much. For me being in my 50s has very much been about taking things in stride, letting go of what needs to let go. I thought beforehand it would be big and scary and instead it seems to have come with a big side of not caring quite as much about many things that previously seemed very important. Anyway, I hope your birthday is more pleasant, but that you have all the gifts of discernment and inner peace.

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Jane Weaver's avatar

This resonated with me. I have read some interesting lists, considered several goals of the year for myself, but at this wise age of almost 50, meh! I keep hearing a line from Dr. Seuss, "I'll do what I want to do, that's what I'll do." Maybe I'll go write an essay that starts with "just for today..."

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