Greetings for the New Year 2021
Aurora Borealis 2002 – photo by Gottfried Mitteregger on New Year’s Eve in Yellowknife
I am confident everyone here wishes each other a happier New Year, and I say this with a measure of angst, sorrow and mostly hope, particularly in light of this difficult day in the US. We know we can’t predict the future. We do know nothing stays the same. Change is guaranteed. So I will go with the old cliche that in the case of uncertainty there is nothing wrong with hope.
I especially hope that by the fall, everyone who wants a vaccine is vaccinated and that we will once again be able to come together and do what we can to make this world a better place for all. I hope no one loses heart. I hope you all stay healthy. And I hope we have much to celebrate this year.
You already know that I love this poem for the New Year and this is the third New Year I have used it. I think of it as a poem for new beginnings:
Twelve years ago my friend sent me the following stanza by poet Marge Piercy from her poem, The Spring Offensive of the Snail. She also added this note:
“This is a great poem to start off the New Year. There is also a ceremony among some First Nations people, which involves throwing water over their backs seven times. In doing so, they wash away any habits or thoughts no longer beneficial for growth. People forgive those who have harmed them and ask forgiveness of those they have harmed. Now they are ready to start the year anew.”
“…But remember to bury
all old quarrels
behind the garage for compost.
Forgive who insulted you.
Forgive yourself for being wrong.
You will do it again
for nothing living
resembles a straight line,
certainly not this journey
to and fro, zigzagging
you there and me here
making our own road onward
as the snail does…” excerpt from Marge Piercy’s poem
I hope that this new year will be filled with many meaningful moments and especially time with the ones you love. Don’t let go of hope.
There is always a door:
It has been my experience that there is always a door. Help arrives during times of distress and great difficulty. Sometimes we don’t even need to ask for help. It arrives unbidden. And sometimes we need to seek it out. Knock on doors. Write letters. Make calls.
And, even with all of our pro-activeness, it doesn’t imply we solve the problem. We still get bad news. Yet, we often find comfort, strength and new information. It is important to seek out what you need. Sometimes the locked door opens, even a crack, and allows some light to get in. Sometimes it doesn’t and, yet, our efforts and the efforts of others keep us from being alone and can provide words of comfort.
2021 awaits us with, as of today, 359 brand new pages for our book of life. Let’s all live them fully, in the best way we know how. “Zigzagging (along) you there, me here…as the snail does.”
With love and gratitude and a thousand good wishes for you all. Trudy
Notes
Note 1:) I am choosing to make health a priority for 2020. Consequently, if I don’t put a disciplined effort into taking care of body and soul, I reduce my chances to continue to live a vital and joyful life for as long as I am still breathing. This was a priority last year, and I didn’t do a good job. So, starting again, I have so far this year slept eight hours a night, walked one hour plus a day and drank a respectable amount of water each day. Fresh starts, or as Pema Chodron says, “start where you are. You will often fail but never give up.”
Note 2:) The good news is that a “new year” isn’t necessary to do new things or make changes. We get a new day every morning that we are lucky enough to wake up. Yeah!
Note 3:) I thank you for the great honour that I receive each time you click on “read more.” I humbly appreciate you continuing along with me each week. Some musings are better than others and you are generous, dear readers, for so often joining me here, no matter what. I deeply appreciate you. You make my life better. Warmest regards, Trudy
PS no matter how often I repeat this it is always deeply true.
Happy New Year mom! I’m looking forward to our next 359 days 😊
Happy New Year to you dear Trudy. 🙂 I am always happy to ‘read on’ and thankful that I have taken the time to do this. Thank you so much!! Happy day!
Happy new year, everyday to you Trudy. making my health priority too. I have been noticing that covid is ageing us. many of my gal pals are stating this too so….more action on the body and mind. enjoy each day.
Happy New Year Trudy. Love the poem.
the Best new year to you Trudy, happy to be zigzagging along with you! xoxoxo
Happy New Year, dear Trudy! I look forward to zigzagging every week with your post. Well, not zigzagging actually. Every time excellent post at the suitable timing. Thank you. xoxo
Dear Trudy,
reading your always welcome blog, the “Joyful”-song comes into my mind.
“Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away” are two of the song’s rows and that is, what I whish us all:-)
Have a joyful year, all of you!
Love
Sabine
Happy New Year from Japan!
Thank you for your hopeful essay. Spring is just around the corner when winter comes.