8. Stretch Goals
Dearest Family and Friends, December draws to a close, and with it my aspirations for 2025. I didn’t lose the weight I had hoped to lose; I will drag seven unwanted pounds into the new year unless the basal metabolism fairy pays me a surprise visit in the next few days. I didn’t become enlightened either. Becoming enlightened during 2025 was my stretch goal and I wasn't even close. Too much desire and too little kindness. I should be thankful I wasn’t done away with entirely and reincarnated as a hungry ghost or a toaster oven. I will reuse those two resolutions next year; they are untouched and good as new. I am checking off one promise I made to myself last January — take a challenging class. For me, this will be group yoga, a stretch goal of a different sort. In fact, I just entered a large exercise room where my class is about to begin. The room is part of the fitness facility attached to Berkeley’s historic Claremont Hotel, three blocks from my home. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors c...