Ritchie n’ The ‘Lass
I had the good fortune of being away over the holidays. It’s our second time taking a once-a-year mini-sabbatical. We pack my son, mate, and mom and sneak away. More than a vacation, it gives us time to live differently and see our existence and daily purpose in a different light, in a more congenial climate. : )
We’re not at a resort but a residence. So, no lounging by the beach with a pina colada drip hooked straight to my veins. Our environment does not boast modern convenience, and we are nose-to-nose with nature (like the neighbourhood rooster acting as your alarm clock nose-to-nose), which is very good for us. Each time, my mom is transported back to her childhood in what we now understand as paradise. In a way, it’s a time to be our ideal selves.
While there, we usually need to do some yard work (remember, nature). Enter Richard (Ritchie to those who know). Richie is a great guy. Straightforward and steadfast, he knows the land as only a person who grew up in the country can. Watching him is to watch ancient practices in modern times. So, the deal was that some big trees needed taming. The towering foliage begged to be tamed as they bloomed too high above the ground for anyone to enjoy their fruits except the bats, who feast at night. They needed some love to ensure they could thrive for years to come.
The day comes, and here comes Richard, who has two gents in tow. Each has nothing but a machete. No chainsaw, no axe, just a curved metal blade with a wooden handle smoothed by time and touch. If you’re familiar with this ancient tool, you come from one of the many cultures worldwide that use the machete daily. Also known as a cutlass (or ‘lass’ if you really know), it is still an essential tool.
Friends, these gentlemen limbered up and down the trees over a few hours, adeptly wielding their ‘lass, trimming, cutting, chopping, slicing and digging until the yard was transformed from unruly to polished. For the grand finale, the machetes were used to dig up yam and cassava, eaten with glee over the following days. You know the scene in every coming-of-age teen movie from the 90s (hush, young ones), where the main girl, ignored by the main dude because she wore glasses, suddenly arrived at the prom without them. Everyone could finally see she was always meant to be Prom Queen? Like that.
By now, you know me and my habit of situational takeaways. Just as the sun began to sparkle through the now-cleared skyline, flooding the yard with light and life, I saw the beauty in simplicity—the quiet power of a simple tool with incredible impact. It was all in how you wielded it.
Once our time away is over, rather than getting sad about returning to the cold (which I am, indeed, always sad about, even though I was born right here in the ice tray), I focus on what I want to bring back. For me, the new year is always less about goals and more about movement.
How will I move this year? While on reprieve from my regular scheduled programming, what practices did I adopt or easily fall into that helped me feel better? I let the stuff that bothered, frustrated and disappointed me bubble to the top. I sit with it. I think deeply about the root of each. What got under my skin? When did I not like how I responded, and why? What realizations and trends can I spot in my behaviour leading to adverse outcomes, like resentment and burnout? What did I make time for that I don’t do at home (and why)? What did I take the time to appreciate that I miss daily? What attitudes and practices do I see in others I admire and want to emulate?
It’s a holistic process. I’m looking at my health and overall well-being, including my family, business, personal desires, and dreams. It’s about habits (just systems you built and made stick), approach, intentions, and what I want from life’s unique experiences.
Instead of goals and resolutions, I want to pinpoint the answer to a profound question: When am I the best version of myself? The answer is when I am like a machete: Simple, Valuable, Impactful. It’s about how I move through the world and life.
So, on your own time, at your own pace (New Year be damned), sit with it – whatever it is, and decide how you want to move going forward. You’ll be surprised at how your body, mind, circumstances, and opportunities around you shift in your chosen direction. We can all celebrate that.
Happy New Year, ya’ll.
Mercedes
