With the busy-ness of the holiday season, with either contemplating gifts for those we love, the perfect meal planned, or havings to face family situations that have never healed, it doesn't leave much time to think about what we would like to see happen in the New Year. This is always a most profound time of the year for most of us, because we see it as a time for change. It seems quite appropriate that our new President elect will be entering office with much hope and belief that the world we live in does need to be transformed in some way, but I think that most of us feel there is really nothing individually that we can do to help that change take place. What a sad state of affairs if that is in fact the case.
When I look at pictures of the earth that were taken from one of the Apollo flights, it amazes me at how any of us can feel alone, set apart, or feel we have no impact on the earth as a whole. I don't believe we have a deep appreciation for our planet, what it takes for us to exist here, or how important it is to preserve our precious home. Some of us only see the bad in the world, the injustice, the crime, the ones that suffer, whether it's your own personal experience, or that of someone you care about. But what about all the good, the beauty, the nature, the moments of peace and hamony that is felt by all of us from time to time? It's there....it's always there.....but it's more about how you perceive the world you live in, and how you see yourself and your abilities to heal the things and people that are broken, as opposed to taking what you can while you're here. After all, your time can be up at any given moment, with you embracing your death, or either leave kicking and screaming to stay......and what you'll be left with will be thoughts of how you lived here, what you did to help nuture not only yourself, but others and the earth as a whole.
My thoughts lately have been not so much about what I can get, or how I might be recognized while I'm here, but what I might contribute to make the earth a better place in which to live. Most of us feel our hands are tied, that in order to help make change you need money, power, position....etc. Which is quite interesting because I have none of those, yet still am convinced and hopeful that I have something within me that can help mend and heal the earth. There is much work to improve the environment from waste and toxic fumes, but in order to help people be more mindful of the damage that's being done to the earth, they have to appreciate the fact that the earth IS their home. You can have your physical home in which to dwell, and make some changes......the car you drive....the way you handle your trash, etc.......but what about how you choose to BE on this earth. Are there things about your attitudes and mindsets that really keep those around you stirred up and stressed out, only focused on what they have, how they should use their money, and how they need to spend their time...... not really understanding that your negative, judgemental, and pessimistic thoughts steal any good and positive energy, and replaces it with fear, self-centeredness, righteous indignation, and an overall unrest?
These things have nothing to do with hope for the future, they only focus on the lack of, instead of abundance. It steals moments of what could be filled with peace, harmony, and joy, and replaces them with nothing that nurtures or helps sustain us in this life. In other words, whatever miseries you have and dwell on, is passed on to those around you......the ones you love the most. It might help first up if we all realize and understand that all of us are suffering with our own stuff.....whether physical, emotional or otherwise. We all have things to face, crosses to bear, fears to overcome, etc......so it really serves no purpose for us to focus or dwell on our own misfortunes, but maybe be in a position to listen instead.
One thing that most of us don't realize is, our lives are not all that interesting to those around us, albeit it they care.....but don't really need to hear the details each day. There are SO many interesting and uplifting things to focus on and talk about besides our own struggles. It's likely those around us are fully aware of our situation, but don't need to be reminded each day, and might appreciate our ability to ask questions about their life instead.
In other words, if we expect the New Year to bring something different, we have to think about ourselves and how we fit in this world differently. Whatever we are experiencing or how we experience it, will only be magnified if we keep rehashing our own situation, but instead noticing that others are going through something comparable if not worse than you. So the change is more about our attitude, and how our attitude can help heal and change the rest of the earth.
So you can hope for more money, losing weight, a better job, or a healthier relationship for the New Year, which are all well and good. But just remember, those all require a responsibility on your part. They all require a willingness to change our attitudes, our ability to discipline ourselves, our courage to hold ourselves accountable, and the desire to listen instead of talking. Wishing for something to happen in the New Year will not make it happen, but a belief that God has only good things for your life, and that you do deserve to experience peace, joy and contentment in this life, will in fact change the earth. We were not put here to see how much we could juggle or how much money we could make, for none of that lasts. We can either contribute to the busy-ness and craziness of life, and see there is nothing we can do to help change the earth and those around us, or we can step back and embrace hope that this New Year will be different.
Change is coming, but not in the way you're expecting it to come, so you might as well work on the one thing you have control over in this life........your attitude, your willingness to accept trials and tribulations, not only in your life, but the world as a whole, and your awareness that how you behave, and the things you say and focus on, will in fact be the hope for the New Year.
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