Happy New Year: Endings and Beginnings

Greetings one and all…

As the holiday season draws to a close, I wish to reflect on the year past and the new year ahead—endings and beginnings. The past year has been a difficult and challenging journey for many of us because of the various endings witnessed and experienced. The end of a life. The end of a relationship. The end of a job. The end of a dream. My family, friends, and colleagues have all expressed their gratitude for the conclusion of 2016. Enough is enough! It’s time for a fresh start. A new beginning. The New Year! Despite our past difficulties, we are unanimously hope-FULL about the future. I guess there is truth in the statement that hope springs eternal, eh? Hope is a fabulous thing indeed. However, hope that sustains us through the tough times is rooted in reality.

Although I am usually energized by new beginnings, I realize the prospect of a New Year can be challenging as well. The New Year is a venture into the unknown. Yes, I am hope-full, but there is no guarantee that my hopes will become my reality. So, the New Year is somewhat of a mystery. If I perseverate on the uncertainty, I can become paralyzed by my fear of the unknown—unable to proceed. If I choose to ignore the potential pitfalls of life, I can become overly optimistic—certain to be disappointed by life. Neither extreme serves me well. Consequently, as the journey of 2017 unfolds—one step at a time—I opt to be hope-full while having realistic expectations for the New Year. As always, a balanced perspective is ultimately beneficial. At least that is the hope, right?

Heartfelt Hopes for the New Year

I can think of no better way to conclude our conversation for the year than by expressing my heartfelt hopes (realistic hopes) for the coming year. The list is certainly not comprehensive. Hence, please feel free to add your personal hopes to the list for the New Year. There is power in naming and articulating our aspirations. Instead of mere pipe dreams, our hopes become relevant, rational, and real. Therefore, in 2017, I hope we all…

• Seek the sacred in the ordinary
• Embrace every step of the journey
• Choose to live a JOY-FULL life
• Cherish THE moment
• Be grateful for LIFE
• Serve others in meaningful ways
• Dream BIG and live LARGE
• Invest in LIFE
• Celebrate the small and large victories
• Trust we will survive the hard times
• Rejoice in the good times
• Grow in amazing ways
• Let our light SHINE
• Aspire to live an inspired life
• Believe in ourselves and others
• Share the journey with loved ones
• Look and SEE
• Listen well
• Love deeply
• Live intentionally

Happy New Year to you and yours. Thank you for the opportunity to share a bit of the journey with you. No doubt, there are more endings and beginnings to be experienced in the days and weeks to come. Such is the nature of life. I look forward to the ongoing conversation in 2017. Til then, take good care and blessings to you and yours… jane