I’m inviting you to think of your New Year’s Eve party more like a closing Night Celebration for The Epic Production Of 2018. In theatrical terms, the end of a show is a time of celebration. There’s usually copious bubbly and a whole lot of reminiscing. We’ll noodle on what went fabulously right, what went horribly off-script, and what we learned about ourselves in the process. I’m inviting you to sink into the ending energy, and for a few days, allow yourself to be in-between. In between who you were last year, and who you intend to become next. - Jacqueline Gates The Ending & The In-Between It's common to rush through the process of looking back at the year that is ending, coming to peace about it and embracing the year to come with hope. I have done it in the past in one day, on December 31st. But I think it's better to take more time with it. So it sticks. :) And I think that today, after the excitement of having a whole new year has had a chance to percolate a bit, it might be easier to begin to think through the past year, because we're already feeling the energy of "brand new year has started." If we're going to do the good, the bad and the ugly about 2018, let's start with the worst of it so we get to end on a positive note. :) Taking a Look at What Went Wrong Take a moment to mentally travel through each month of the year, and take note of anything that went wrong. You could do it in writing, too. When I did that, and saw "January" written down, with blank space, I remembered a traumatic moment with my mom. She had cancer, and was suddenly taken to the hospital and we didn't know what was happening at first. The first several days of January went by before we understood that they had resolved the problem and she wasn't about to die right then. Your last-year memories might be less traumatic but still troubling in the moments when they happened. Deciding to think through them, month by month, may mean remembering things you got through but didn't fully leave behind. If we develop sharp enough attention, we can see specifically what feelings and experiences we tend to cling to, or push away. Then we can consciously, gently refrain from pushing or pulling, and let the experience go. We can become free of the stress around a given experience, even while that experience is still happening. -David Cain, from Raptitude.com Letting Go & Healing When I remembered how upsetting those first several days of January was, I understood how they set the tone for the entire year. And I know that that is a moment I need to let go of and heal, so it won't be buried alive, still causing me trouble in the year to come. Do you have moments like that, too? Release them and this year could be so much better than it might be otherwise. Take a moment to give yourself a score, using a scale of 1 to 10. How ready do you feel to go forward into 2019? Granted, the year will march on whether we are able to embrace it or not. But being able to embrace it, too, might make all the difference. Feel free to share your score in the comments, or tell me about something you are leaving behind in the wreckage of 2018. Oh, and if it's not a 10 (mine is at 7, I believe), tomorrow's blog post may help. See you tomorrow! Love, Jeanine
14 Comments
On the whole, 2018 was a good year. Yes, my fiancé passed away from cancer, however, when I look at each month before his passing, as well as after, I see that life has been good to me. His passing left me in a position where I can help others - now isn't that what life is about? With that all said, I see my life as an 8...only because nothing is perfect. Eydie :)
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1/2/2019 11:59:40 am
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss!! And you're right, nothing is perfect. I love your work with grief!
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Jyll Hoyrup
1/2/2019 03:11:49 pm
I love that quote by Jacqueline Gates and how to think of the year as we look back. I did a lot of reviewing 2018, releasing, and then planning for 2019. It definitely feels good to leave 2018 behind!! It was a year of a lot of ups and downs for me. I feel a new energy percolating for 2019 and am excited about it!
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1/2/2019 04:24:18 pm
I love that quote! She talks a lot about preparing your space for the role you want to live. So, dressing your home for the life you want. That's great that you have done some releasing of the past year, and can feel the excitement of possibilities to come.
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1/2/2019 04:15:58 pm
I was never one who believed that parting was "such sweet sorrow". So, I consider 1 January to be a new start, not the end of something. (I don't consider the last day of the Jewish calendar the end of anything, either. Since we've spent 30 days preparing ourselves, looking to be better humans, so when the JNY [Jewish New Year] arrives, we are hitting the ground running.
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1/2/2019 04:26:06 pm
That's a great point, Roy! If you have been preparing during the end of the year so you can hit the ground running when the new year begins, then it's definitely not an ending. But some things can end during the year, and the beginning of the year offers a chance to say goodbye.
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2018 was a good year for me. Of course there were some ups and down and a I lost a friend, but all in all it was good. The best thing was that I had set a goal to quit my 9-5 job (to work on my blog full time) by the end of the year if I had a certain amount saved. I was able to chip away at the amount and made it! I quit my job and I am now a full time blogger! We will see how it goes by the end of 2019, but I am giving it a shot no matter the outcome. Best to you in 2019!
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1/2/2019 07:17:25 pm
That's wonderful, Samantha!! Good for you! Wishing you the best, too.
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2018 was sad and trying in some ways, but the worse was when my granddaughter lost one of the twins she was carrying. But happiness followed when our 5th great grandbaby was born healthy. Her Angel baby will always be looking down on Lia, the Rainbow baby. Looking forward to an exciting year with my new business venture and awaiting 2 more great grandbabies!
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1/2/2019 07:57:47 pm
Oh, Martha, I'm so sorry!! I didn't know there twins. But you're right, I believe they look down on us, and sometimes we can even feel their energy or presence. Oh, and a new business venture? Can't wait to hear more about that!
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I must admit, I usually look forward at the beginning of a new year and your blog post did give me a reason to reflect on this last year in particular.
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1/7/2019 11:34:40 am
I completely agree that we will experience both, unfortunately. So learning from them and managing the way we respond is sometimes the best & the most we can do.
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1/3/2019 01:37:55 am
I would score myself a 7 as well.. dad's passing still is something we are coming to terms with and i am giving myself some more time..
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1/7/2019 11:35:55 am
Yes, absolutely, Vidya!! I am trying to be gentle with myself, and give myself time, too. Blessings and hugs! <3
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