Are you hopeful? As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us think, this is going to be a better year. New possibilities. New beginnings.

The unknown can be scary. We have no control, don’t know what is up ahead. A major turning point I talk about in my memoir, in progress, is that accepting the unknown, taking a leap of faith into a blurry, undefined space, turned out to be a key pivot point in my healing. Yes, I discovered new possibilities and new beginnings, but I guarantee you, I didn’t know that at the time.

As this year begins, I do have know some things – 2019 marks my 20th year teaching Tai Chi and the 20th anniversary of Heartwood Integrative Health and Healing (where I teach); my memoir is moving forward and publishing is starting to sound like reality. This is exciting but also scary because I have so many unknowns. I am working to build a platform for my book, connect with potential readers, build a community. I need to have an audience of readers who want to read my book before it comes out, readers who are eager to read my book and tell all their friends about it.

So, I am spending hours developing a marketing plan with my marketing consultant, identifying all venues and methods for communicating about my book, giving glimpses in advance of what it is about, creating interest in wanting to read it. Two days ago my head was swimming in all the to-dos involved. What do I do first? second? Do you feel that way sometimes? Today, I am organizing, setting priorities. And breathing. And doing some Tai Chi.

What I have learned and try to put into practice is: bring myself back to the moment. Tai Chi does that. It clears my head. Calms my body. Allows me to take one step at a time, move one step ahead at a time, even when it is into the unknown. I have to take some time out, to create more time.