This year is like every year. It will be rich with opportunity, triumph, and growth. It will also have its challenges, frustrations, and disappointments. It is—it will be—like every year: exactly what you decide it will be. This is not a new year’s resolution. This is an intention for you to breathe life into this year. What have you always wanted to do? This is your wake up call from the front desk of your life. Get up, get ready, get out, and do something that has meaning for you. We only have about 80 of these years. How far along are you toward that number? Let’s take this one and make it the best we can by imbuing it with some soul. Write something that you have always wanted to do on the card we provided. The card is foldable so your intention is either visible for all to see or hidden for just you to know. Put it on your bedside table, your bathroom mirror, your car’s dashboard, your desk at work…wherever you will see it, think of it, smile, and know that you are the best friend you ever had. If you need help, here are some projects—big and small—that people have told us about: ● Hike Monadnock ● Spend one day a month doing only what you truly want to do ● Sing or play an instrument at open mic ● Learn a language ● Read a book a week ● Take a martial arts class We want to know that you are pushing to make this year great so tag us on our Facebook page at #brattleboro area hospice and #AYWL. Tell us: ● What you’re doing for you this year ● How your project is going ● What inspired/inspires you ● Why you are doing what you’re doing Whatever you want to do, this isn’t a little resolution that sits on the shelf. This is a decision to make this year—and every year—A Year Well Lived.
Click here to download your own card and have a Year Well Lived!
Cards are also available at Experienced Goods and the Hospice Office at 191 Canal.
Join Us! We chose a new endeavor to live well — and you can too!
Matt Hoffman
Matt Hoffman is making this a year well lived by doing what he loves every day. He and his partners opened Sangha Martial Arts this summer and now offer martial arts and LudoSport International Light Saber Combat classes right here in Brattleboro on the third floor of the Cotton Mill. Their mission is to use Martial arts to inspire others to live to their fullest potential.
Shirley Cutler
Shirley Cutler’s friend asked her to quickly state what one thing on her bucket list she wanted to do. Without hesitation, she said, “Skydive.” About a month later, Shirley’s friend gave her a gift certificate to go skydiving with Green Mountain Skydiving. And not long after that, she finally took the leap… literally! After years of wanting to skydive, she stood at the doorway of the plane and felt no fear. She describes the experience as, “So awesome!”
Ruth Wilmot
Ruth Wilmot had never been particularly athletic beyond walking and the occasional hike, but a circuit training class made her present to the importance of physical fitness. A friend then suggested an app called Couch to 5K and one thing led to another… here she is after finishing her first 5k! By taking a leap and pushing herself just outside her comfort zone, she learned it is never too late to try something new—particularly something that is fun and beneficial for your health.
Elizabeth Ungerleider
Elizabeth Ungerleider is a volunteer with BAH and while she was enthusiastic about the Year Well Lived campaign at the start of the year, she found the request to claim what she would do this year a bit intimidating. And then it occurred to her, being someone who enjoys taking photos every day; that she is more interested in making the most of moments. She can then link these “well lived” moments together to make for a day, a week, a month, and eventually a year well lived. Every year lived with purpose and meaning starts with a moment of intention.
So don’t fear the big goal, lean into the small moment of opportunity calling to you.
Carrie Simmons
Carrie Simmons is the owner and creative director of New Ground Creative, a brand agency in downtown Brattleboro. For Carrie, a year well lived is all about connecting to gratitude—for big things like life in general to smaller things like really good chocolate. Her daily gratitude most often relates to living in a community that positively impacts her experiences as a mother, as a professional who supports mission driven organizations in telling their story, and as a woman leader standing beside a growing number of women leaders in Southern Vermont and the surrounding area.
Dan Yates
For some people, living a year well lived is less about doing any one specific thing as much as it is about making this life one of purpose and meaning. Dan Yates, president of Brattleboro Savings & Loan – Member FDIC, feels that his life is well lived in that the most rewarding aspect of his job is helping people, whether that be helping people realize the dream of home ownership, starting or expanding a business, or helping a family when things get difficult. He thinks it is vital to remember that a paycheck is important but finding a job that you love–working with people you care about and doing something with meaning–will manifest in a deeper satisfaction and a richer life.
Loretta and Matt
Loretta and her husband, Matt, own Boomerang, a new, used, and vintage clothing store in downtown Brattleboro. She’s also a trained Bereavement Counselor through Brattleboro Area Hospice. For Loretta, a year well lived is all about balance: her intensely social workweek requires a commitment to self care and downtime to recharge. After more than 18 years in business she still feels grateful to do work that she loves, but that doesn’t happen without regular visits to her massage therapist, ample time on the tennis court, or afternoons at home soaking up the summer sun with a stack of magazines at her side. This coming winter, creating the balance of a happy and healthy life might mean joining a pickle ball team or taking a tap dance class.
Michelle Nahib
Have you played today? Michelle, the Executive Director of KidsPLAYce in Brattleboro, VT, is making this a year well lived by collaborating with the community to create playful opportunities for kids of all ages. KidsPLAYce has been a play filled environment for 30 years and is still growing thanks to the founders, alumni, children, and families that continue to celebrate playing, learning, and growing together in our community built space.
Francesca
Francesca owns Windham Movement Apparel in downtown Brattleboro. She is making this a year well lived by running a business whose mission is to supply the movement arts community with quality products in an environment that encourages fellowship between participants and increases awareness of the benefits of the arts.
Ryan Murphy
Ryan is one of our Hospice Care Coordinators. It had been 10 years since the last time he rode a motorcycle when he chose to reconnect with his passion for riding. Why? Ryan realizes he has no way of knowing how long he will be able to ride a motorcycle. So why NOT make time for it?
Joe Heslin
“I just thought I’d have more time.” Joe Heslin had planned to hike Monadnock this year for the first time since moving to New England. “It’s been a good year, but I need to make time for what I really want next year.” Monadnock is waiting.