My word for 2021 is shift. Like everyone I know, I’ve learned a lot, since this time last year. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that change and uncertainty just are. Since I’m not in control of much more than which yoga pants, Zoom-appropriate top, and slippers I’ll wear each day, I needed to figure out how I could deal with all the change and uncertainty. That’s where shifting comes in.

For me, shifts involve acceptance and adjustment. I know I don’t have much control, but I have unlimited choices. I can shift. 

Some of my recent shifts have been pretty significant. Some have been tiny. Some haven’t happened, yet. And I’m sure I’ll make a lot of shifts I can’t even imagine.

Estoy cambia aprendiendo español. And I invite my Spanish speaking friends to correct how I just tried to construct that sentence, without using an online translation site. 😜

In my faith tradition, this is the season of Lent. For a lot of my life, one of the ways I observed Lent was by giving up something. In recent years though, I’ve tried observing it by adding something to my life. Thanks to a course I’m taking from the Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry, called Beloved Neighbors, I’ve been even more inspired to finally learn Spanish.

At this point, I’ve: enrolled in a couple of online programs; tuned-in to some ‘Spanish 101’ courses on YouTube; asked friends for advice; downloaded a Spanish/English dictionary on my phone and tablet; checked into online course offerings at my local community college; plugged into Spanishplayground.net ; and, duh, started listening to and reading Spanish, to try to better understand.

It’s being a huge shift for me. And while I promise not to bore you with weekly updates, I will share a few progress updates, though.

Several people are credited with first asking, “When was the last time you did something for the first time”. So, I’m not sure who to credit. I am sure it’s been a lonnng time for me. And it’s a good shift.

It’s a huge and good shift because I’m stretching my brain muscles. And it’s even better because I’m trying to better understand other human beings. And in my book, that’s what shifting is all about.

What kind of shifts have you experienced lately?