Auld Lang Syne
Well, it's that time of year again. We might have tried to sing our way into 2019, but not really sure of the words past "Should old acquaintance be forgot ..." and now we're wondering if we should work on some resolutions, again, or just fuggedaboutit. Trying to "fix" ourselves, one more time, feels a bit punitive and unkind in this new era of self-compassion and gentleness. At the same time, we might worry that we're letting ourselves slack off if we don't at least attempt to whip ourselves into shape.
I'm not a big fan of self-flagellation (although a sweet spanking at the hands of someone who knows what he's doing ... oops, different blog ), but I'm all in favor of reframing a situation, if it helps to improve my life.
This week's MQ was about moving from feeling dejected because "old habits die hard" to getting more hopeful by focusing on relishing the thought that "new habits come on strongly and with excitement!"
How many times have you heard someone or even yourself say things like,
there's not much I can do about it, it's in my DNA
everyone in my family has this problem
same sh%t, different day
you can't always get what you want
at my age, I can't ... (my all time least favorite phrase!)
And, of course, there's always, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks". Well, I beg to differ! Woof, woof!
It might mean coming out of a comfort zone. It might take a little effort, but what have you ever done, that was really worth it, that didn't shake things up at least a little bit?!? I've been reading all kinds of things recently that encourage people to fail because if you've never gone on a path that ever needed a course correction, then you're probably sitting in a corner not doing much of ANYTHING! There's a lot of buzz around the drive for perfection crippling young people, especially women. The fear of failure or even parents protecting their children from defeat is creating people who are afraid to do or try anything. As I look back at my life, so far, I can see that I have thrived on snafus and fiascos. It didn't always feel so good, but it always brought me to some new, essential awarenesses.
Auld lang syne literally means old long since or, long, long ago or days gone by. I suggest, as we start off another year, especially if we can look at it as a time for beginnings and new opportunities, that we leave the past in those bygone days. Every moment that we take another breath in, we have another chance to anticipate something new and exciting just ahead. We can anticipate the possibility of habits we've yet to seriously consider -- until now. Let's be open to the unexpected and as the poet Rumi says,
"...A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
...Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond."
- The Guest House
Follow your heart. Follow your soul. Listen to your inner Divine. This is what I wish for you at the beginning, in the middle, and the end of any year.
