Happy New Year!

Every year, after the stroke of midnight, we ring in the New Year. For some folks, it is just a new calendar, and for other folks, it is as though a fresh beginning. The latter because they have made the conscious decision to let go and accept that the past is the past and they move on without holding on to stuff that does not serve them anymore.

I let go; my ores, my oars, my boat. I drift, I drift. Upstream. I am free, I am free!

Life experiences are always teaching us to forgive, to be kind and compassionate with ourselves and others. So we do the best that our human selves could do to learn so we won’t repeat whatever it is that we need to learn.

If we have not learned, then karma will compassionately send us back to class to experience again whatever it was that we may have missed in class. There is no pass or fail, just life lessons to better ourselves and for others.

But do we need a new year to let go and move on? When you think about it, the new year is just a change of mindset. It is a conscious shift in perspective. If we could do this shift every year, then it is possible to do this every day. So how about looking at it this way instead; look at every moment in our daily lives as a new opportunity to let go of whatever it is that is burdening our minds. Especially judgement. We sure like to judge ourselves and others a lot. In fact, we are so harsh with our judgements that we have worn down our gavels! Ouch. But that's a story for another time.

Vincent van Gogh wrote in his letter to his brother, Theo:

If only we try to live sincerely, it will go well with us, even though we are certain to experience real sorrow, and great disappointments, and also will probably commit great faults and do wrong things, but it certainly is true, that it is better to be high-spirited, even though one makes more mistakes, than to be narrow-minded and all too prudent. It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love, is well done.

Vincent van Gogh
The Letters of Vincent van Gogh to his Brother, 1872-1886 (1927) Constable & Co

Our human purpose on this beautiful blue pearl is to learn to love. To love self, to love others, to love the planet. If we keep this in our hearts and minds, everyday could be like a new year's celebration.

“It all turns out, you know,” I said to my little self. “We are only here to learn. All that exists is wisdom. The things we experience here and the truths we take to heart from those experiences are all that really matter. They are the wisdom we get to keep.” — Jeff Olsen