Hello again and Happy New Year!

I love this time of year – the ending of one year and the beginning of a brand new, clean-slate one.  It’s always full of reflection, dreaming, and hopeful planning for the New Year.  With the hectic pace and frenetic energy of the holidays behind us, it’s the perfect time to slow down and give thought to the year that’s just passed, and the one stretching out in front of us.

Thinking of 2021 in the rearview mirror certainly gives me pause.  It wasn’t quite the joyful, pandemic-free year we were all anticipating, yet for many, we gained a sense of renewal and possibility.  We were able to reconnect – in person – with more friends and family on a regular basis. That felt so good. We were able to travel some. Yay!  And we were able to resume more of our “normal” activities (although that word’s meaning is pretty fluid these days).  But I’ll take it. With whatever caveats or protocols necessary – I’ll take my life.  All of it, every day of it, every hour, every minute, every every of it.  

I came across a quote the other day from one of my favorite books, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” that seems particularly fitting at this time in our collective lives, and especially as we begin a New Year.  Whether setting resolutions (does anyone do that anymore?) or intentions (I like those), this passage captures what we all may be more open to these days. 

“Dear God,” she prayed, “let me be something every minute of every hour of my life.  Let me be gay; let me be sad.  Let me be cold; let me be warm.  Let me be hungry . . . have too much to eat.  Let me be ragged or well dressed.  Let me be sincere – be deceitful.  Let me be truthful; let me be a liar.  Let me be honorable and let me sin.  Only let me be something every blessed minute.  And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost.”

I could probably do without the lying and deceit parts, and would add “let me always be kind,” but you get the drift.  The point is: life is short, embrace it. 

What’s coming is better than what’s gone.

I really believe that. I believe that we can and should learn from our mistakes, mis-judgements, and missed opportunities.  That’s why what’s coming is better than what’s behind us.  Not that life won’t hand us some difficult or painful moments, but with what we’ve learned, we’ll be better equipped to deal with whatever comes our way.  

So, pandemic or no pandemic, perhaps for this New Year, we can choose not to bemoan the changes and inconveniences that life and pandemics bring, but instead choose to look forward to better days – not-before-the-pandemic-blissfully-naeve sorts of days – just days when we wake up and try to be something and love something every blessed minute.

Till next time, I wish you a Happy New Year filled with somethings every blessed minute.

Judy