Doing Things That Count

 

I begin at the end of this week. One year is smashing to an end as another is rolling gently into its place. 

 

It’s like watching a waltz with a 123, 123 step all together in alignment. 

 

Sounds good to me as I look at doing things that count for now. 

 

There seems to be another roll to this line up as the week comes with a 12-31-23 date that can also be viewed as the same waltzing step. 

 

Do you feel a memory coming to you with the rolling step? 

 

Perhaps if I say 123, 123 count! 123, 123 count then you will have your picture of a character from a beloved children’s PBS television show that also loves to …. Count! 

 

Yes! The Count from Sesame Street knows that doing things that are in alignment and are lined up is a good way to start anything. 

 

Smashing one year, one week and one day into another may seem messy to some, so let’s clean it up by taking it one step at a time. 

 

Like a waltz done in thirds and with a smile on our face. 

When I start doing things that count.

When I start doing things that count it seems to turn out okay most of the time. 

Let’s see what happens with this roll of the feet. 

 

Are there other times that doing things that count have taken me to a new place? 

I do think so.

 

Here are a couple ways it has happened before as I end this year. 

Think about how it has worked for you. 

 

Years ago, I started a race then needed to go into high gear as the hills came into view. 

My breathing was steady, and my focus stayed on course as my mantra continued to be 123, 123 while doing the things that counted.

 

It turned out that looking up the line of runners to where I was going and staying mindful of where I wanted to end up was the best way to count on finishing that race. 

 

Doing one thing at a time was my goal that day. 

 

First, I took a breath in, then I let the breath go out. 

Was that all I thought about? Yes! During that race I thought about breathing with all my strength. My muscles knew what to do as long as I could give them the oxygen they needed. 

 

That race taught me tons, my friends. 

Just keep breathing has stuck with me.

Just keep breathing is a mantra that has stuck with me for decades since. 

 

Breathe in, breathe out. 

Staying mindful is still the key. 

 

Another thing I learned when doing things that count was to play more and often. 

 

Lands. This one sits me back on my tail feathers. 

 

Can you feel this one in your belly? 

 

Then let’s laugh with it while Count von Count rumbles off his 123, 123. 

 

I sat still with Brandon recently as we talked about going back in time.

Would you? 

What would you do differently? 

 

If you could change things, what would you do? 

 

I answered this quickly by saying I would play more. 

Oh, bytheway. We played tons and in so many ways that I can barely list them. 

 

And bytheway. 

I have listed them in chapters and pages and I would gladly do it again to play longer and more and take more days off and sit on more mountain beaches. 

What does that do for the things that count?

What does that do for the things that count now? 

Let’s play! 

 

Follow that trail, go see those massive trees, and sit on the patio.

Be still. 

 

I now have a life goal list. Play is nestled into every piece of it. 

 

There is also a list of 10 things to gear up for and one big smacker to get going on right this minute. 

 

Here is what I found. 

Doing things that count also include these last things with a grand exclamation mark. 

 

Meditation, walking meditation, walking prayer, being still and pulling myself back into a space where I can be aware is how I can move forward. 

 

Being aware of what comes as it is lovely yet surprising. 

Looks like a gift to ourselves that is wrapped up neatly, set aside and ready for a final reveal!

 

123, 123 let’s dance this step together.