i cannot tell you that i will mourn the passing of 2008. in many ways, both personal and professional, 2008 seemed to me to be a year spent in purgatory; forced to abide there until i had dealt with a few assorted sins, both of omission and commission. to add to that there were illnesses in my family, career path twists no one saw coming and the death of a long time friend and mentor.
i realize that i’m not alone in this; many of you have wrote to me of your personal struggles this past year, that while yes, there were some truly incredible joy-filled parts, there were also times of intense frustration and even at times a feeling of hopelessness, a vague sense of loss.
so here we are, having turned the page to 2009.
as i see it we have a choice at this moment. we can choose to wrap ourselves in our hurt, clothe ourselves in bitterness and, for the next 12 months, talk about what might of been.
or, we can make a decision to move on. to let it go and to embrace the new year, the clean slate that lies before us.
this doesn’t garner you much sympathy points. no one will say ‘ah poor you’ and give you slack for your crap behavior. i know, i’ve tried. in fact, most won’t even know there’s been an issue. by it’s very nature it’s the tougher road to choose. it can certainly be a more solitary one.
but i’m a big believer in redemption, and i’m a huge fan of fresh starts. so, here is your chance. your decision. i believe that all of us could use one huge, childlike cosmic ‘do-over’. no, maybe that’s not realistic. maybe it sounds a little bit like some hallmark card or fortune cookie philosophy. but sometimes the most complex, the most profound in life, are also the most simple. faith, love, hope — all fit into this category.
so, for my new year’s resolutions this year…
i resolve to be more forgiving. more open. to embrace that which terrifies me. to have faith in that which i cannot see. to be willing to accept that sometimes in life there is such a thing as a happy ending.
to have hope.
happy new year everyone. may it bring you everything you truly need. thank you for being part of this.
peace
ag
