Happy New Year!
Posted December 31st, 2009 by Tawni Anderson
The laugh’s on me:
this year’s man
is last year’s man.
~Ching An
A new year, a new decade. Several of my friends have groused recently about new year’s celebrations. Why make a big deal out of an arbitrary “turning point”? It’s just a calendar date! And I’ve felt the same way sometimes too. New Year’s parties, sure; Times Square (even on TV), nope.
Others look at the first day of the new year as a completely fresh start, a genuinely new year. The strike of midnight wipes the slate. Out come the journals and lists, with reflections on the past year and resolutions for the new year. Some very accomplished people I know set goals—monthly, quarterly, whatever—for the coming year. And a few of them actually always attain those goals.
I’m writing this with about 45 minutes to go (in our time zone), listening to five amazing young girls running wild and getting ready to go outside and light fireworks and bang on pots and pans and scream “Happy New Year!” I’ll ask them, but I’m pretty sure none of them have set any actual resolutions for 2010—yet their excitement is the most genuine I’ve known. (Maybe it’s just staying up late and going outside and making lots of noise without getting yelled at by the neighbors?)
I’ve fallen somewhere in the middle this new year. I enjoy the celebration, and parties with fires and lights and fireworks in the dead of Winter, so soon after the Solstice—so I’m not in the Bah, Humbug! crowd. But nor have I drawn up a list of resolutions. I do, though, have a few things rattling around that I’d like to work on, and an ineffable sense that the turning of a “new year” is as good a time as any to get going on them.
And maybe that’s my middle ground. It’s as good a time as any, and any time is a good time. January 1st is a great day to start sitting longer each day, get more exercise, try to be more present when talking to my family and friends and while at the office. But so are June 15th, and October 30th, and December 21st. They’re all good days to let go of fear, drop off body and mind, and deepen my practice.
Wherever you fall in the celebrating-New-Year spectrum, I hope that 2010 is filled with beauty and delight.
Photo by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton
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3 Responses to “Happy New Year!”
January 1st, 2010 at 1:54 pm
This year I’m firmly in the company of those reflecting on the year, past and the possibility of the one to come. I’ve never done this before but this morning I seem to be compelled. I guess by some measure it is easier to look back and see more clearly the lessons that help us grow, the fears that hold us in place, and to let go of ideas that no longer serve us. For me it’s a lot harder to do all of that in the present moment, so, I’ll take this moment of reflection.
Part of my reflection this morning has revolved around rejoining Lost Coin, renewing my practices, and taking Jukai. As I was about to take Jukai, I asked a my friend Christy to come and join the ceremony because I did not have any family locally who could be there. She replied to me that she couldn’t join me for the ceremony but that I shouldn’t worry, my new dharma brothers and sisters would be there with me. How right she was. Thank you all.
Tawni, you are right there is opportunity in every new beginning whether it is the beginning of a new year, a new decade, or the sunrise of a new day. Each bring with it an opportunity. I’ll take this opportunity to begin again. Why not? I look out my window this morning at a cloudless sky, white snow covering the mountains, and the quite of a moment in the present. Seems like a good opportunity to begin.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:09 am
New Year`s Day
New Day`s Hour
New Hour`s Minute
New Minute`s Second
New Second` s Momentmomentmomentmoment…
LET`S PARTY!
January 6th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Steve, I really enjoyed being part of your Jukai ceremony. In fact, I think that was the first Jukai ceremony where I had the honor of seeing Sensei officiate.
Now, I remember why Jukai was so powerful for me. Only two weeks after I took Jukai, I was jumped in Poland and had a very bad street fight with a girl my age! Sure, I didn’t have to defend myself but it was a natural instinct. Talk about a fall from Grace and it wasn’t the only time I’ve ever crashed and burned! The irony really troubled me for a while as that wasn’t my idea for a great start.
6 years later at your Jukai, I felt I could renew my committment to since I was there as a witness.
I like this idea of beginning again.
Tawni, I loved the description of the children playing. I savored those moments of freedom with my family and friends on New Year’s for years! This year, I feel we rekindled some of those nostalgic vibes.
May all be well. I’ll also take a new beginning, with the rest of this lovely bunch.
Annette, I love your post! Break out some munchies! Let’s feast together.
Peedee
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