Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Traditionally a night of festivities, of celebrating the end of one year and anticipating the arrival of another. A new year. And for me (and I'm sure most of you) it's a time for reflection and pause. A time to think about things that occurred in the year about to leave us. A time to promise you'll do better in the coming year. That is where those 'made with good intentions' New Year's Resolutions kick in. I think they are promises we make ourselves to change. Whether it be changing our diet, our bad habits, or even simply changing a routine...we ALL promise ourselves what we like to think as POSITIVE change will enrich our lives and allow us to begin the new year with ambition, with hope, and with happiness and peace within.
In my younger years, there was NO WAY I'd let a New Year arrive without staying awake to celebrate that 'ball' dropping. And then I would hear fireworks. I'd go to sleep and waken in the sunlight the next morning fairly certain that monumental things would occur this brand new year.
2011 for me was a year filled with change. Change that I did not instigate, but change that caused my family's life to be altered. This change also gave me time to do something I had not done in MANY years. The change was the ending of my job. I actually had the summer 'off'. I was able to enjoy the summer - the planting in my garden, the ability to sit in the sun with a good book or glass of wine; the ability to take my dogs for walks at times they would normally have been alone. It took me about a month to get used to being at home. But you know something, once I got the 'hang' of it, I LOVED IT! I baked, cooked, cleaned, renovated things in the house, went on vacation to New England (see earlier post) and found a place that my soul told me was where I belonged. I realized what I wanted to do with my life. We have decided that we need to 'go for it' and try to make that a reality.
This new year hopefully will see that life I am longing for...come to fruition. I have done a lot of things in my life that I'm ashamed of; things that I can't imagine I did in looking back on them. I have two great sons that I am so very proud of, and a husband who supports whatever it is I decide to do. I am blessed with wonderful friends; and some of them longtime age-old friends (not OLD in age, but friends who have been with me since my childhood and early adult years). Those kind of friends are with you forever. If you don't have someone in your life like that, you have no idea what you are missing.
So, as we wind down 2011 and gear up for 2012, I wish for all of you good health, peace within, happiness and self-fulfillment in whatever it is you strive for that makes your life complete. Never live your life for others totally and always find time to discover YOU. You will find the greatest joy in looking out for yourself. Only when you are happy with yourself can you be happy with others. I had to learn that the hard way. I guess I'm a slow learner. I read this quote the other day and it hit home for me: "You must make a CHOICE to take a CHANCE or your life will never CHANGE." So true, my friends. So true. Think about it.
Happy New Year!!
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