I really like
this time of year—the lead up to the end of the current year and the beginning
of the brand new one. Generally, right after Christmas Day, the media is full of
retrospective programming, looking back in music, film and news at the year that
was (or should more properly be called, the year that still is for another few
days yet).
Looking back on
a regular basis can be not only a helpful thing; it can be a healthy one as
well.
As we live our
lives, day to day, we tend to get mired in the mud of the path we walk. What is
happening right now at this very moment can seem so important, so vital,
that we can be sidetracked away from what the important things in life truly
are. It really is easy to get caught up in the minutia, or, as is commonly said,
to not see the forest for the trees.
It’s good to
take a step back and focus for a bit on the bigger picture.
I don’t—as you
may or may not recall—make New Year’s resolutions. For me, these have proven to
be traps just waiting to be fallen into. There’s nothing worse in my estimation
than making a resolution on New Year’s Eve, and then ending up failing on New
Year’s Day, or the day after. That kind of behavior just breeds frustration, a
sense of failure, and self-loathing. I try very hard not to fall
into that pit.
But while I
don’t specify a list of things I am going to change about myself, or my
circumstances, or anyone in my sphere (yes, I do sometimes have those kinds of
thoughts and I know I’m not alone), I do like to take a few minutes and give
some thought as to what I would like to accomplish in the twelve months
ahead.
Most of the
items I think of are rather generic, and don’t change much from year to year.
I’d like to be kinder; I’d like to be a bit more patient, and a bit more
generous. I’d like to, at the bottom of it all, do something that matters to
someone—I want to be a blessing to another human being.
Some folks
think that in order to change the world you have to do big things. This is
simply not true. The way you change the world the most is by touching, in a
positive way, the life of another person.
Do something
big, and you may be written about in the history books. Do something small and
you’ll be written upon the heart of another human being.
If enough
people do the small things that touch the hearts of others – that, my friends,
is a whole lot of darn good karma—the kind of good karma that changes the
world.
In the mean
time, I’m back to my generalized list of things for the next twelve months. The
one last thing I would like to add is that I want to be sure to remember to take
time to breathe. Sometimes I get too busy, and I need to set aside some time to
ponder the miracles in life, to breathe in the scent of the roses and the
coffee, and to be grateful for the bounty with which I have been blessed. Some
folks might look at my house, that’s more than a little ramshackle, or me—you
won’t find a designer label in my closet, and rare is the day I put on
makeup—and think that the bounty I give thanks for isn’t much at all.
To them I say,
just look inside my heart. It’s full to over flowing with love, and that’s
bounty enough for me.
Happy New Year
to you all!
Love,
Morgan
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