A pair of simple wooden shoes & a small box of paint & brushes make up one of my most cherished traditions.
On our first Christmas Eve together, I had to work a swing shift at the hospital. Before Dave dropped me off, we sat side by side at our little coffee table & painted an image on our wooden shoes. I painted a star for new beginnings, within each of us, but as a couple as well. He painted curious black rings, linked under holly, which symbolized the matching tribal bracelets he would offer to me later that evening, marking our engagement.
Each year since, we have sat together & added an image to each shoe, though now we generally celebrate on Winter Solstice rather than Christmas Eve if possible. Then we fill the shoes with simple gifts for each other.
The paintings -- or drawings in my case, since I have taken to fine-tipped pens recently -- depict a significance from the year. Sometimes it is highlighting an actual event, such as a long-boat from our month-long honeymoon in Thailand or the pine trees of Flagstaff. Often it is an idea or tone, such as the bare tree with snow I painted our second year to remind myself to be mindful of nature & her seasons. We had begun to eat seasonally, & I wanted to carry this idea into other aspects of my life, slowing down for the winter & taking time for introspection.
We never share our plans until after they are permanently etched onto each shoe, but often they reflect one another. We both painted Eisley the year we adopted her, which meant more to us than just having another "pet"; it felt like we were a family, not just two people dating or engaged. Dave painted the long-boat last year, signifying our adventure in Thailand, which went hand in hand with our marriage; I encompassed a Sanskrit phrase from our vow exchange on the beach in a circle of pine trees, embracing the new adventure we had leaped into by leaving familiar securities behind in Utah & starting fresh in Arizona. Dave happened to draw a book the year I did the tree, both symbols of our frequent moments of introspection.
This year, a simple girl in Natarajasana (King Dancer) embraces my changes in body image & motivations & how much more apparently climbing, yoga, health, & fitness have interwoven themselves into my life. Dave's beautiful scenery of Flagstaff offers a glimpse of what our lives are like here & what we are growing to love more & more, namely the bordering mountain & desert as well as access to climbing areas -- a steep bouldering cave in the bottom-right corner was all too appropriate.
Our images might be closely tied, but you can see the differences in our artistic styles, which always let our individual voices & experiences shine through.
As I typed this post, pouring over our images, thoughts, & experiences, I realized how much meaning our relatively simple tradition holds & how useful it has become in shaping my focus this time of year.
Maybe you are a goal-setter -- & there is certainly nothing wrong with that -- & are looking forward to new resolutions & pursuits to start the new year. Before you do, I encourage you to take a quiet moment to reflect -- not necessarily dwell -- over the past year & determine what stands out to you & whether this is something you want to carry over or perhaps let go & change with the new year.
Recently a close friend shared part of the Yi Jing that stood out to her about energies that arise with personal revelations & how they can become stagnant if not put to good use.
& have a Happy New Year!
