“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Chesterton is a voice of nagging to me, but I know he is right. There are times when one might reconsider and take stock of life and decide to start afresh. As much as I know I’m not a fan of resolutions, I still make them. Some I live up to and some I don’t. But if I did not make resolutions, I would have nothing concrete for me to live up to and to consider for the upcoming year.
Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meet-up for prayer* and community at Daily Kos. We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome.
And, yes, a new year will be upon us very soon. Come join me beyond the orange!
As luck would have it, I have a birthday in the middle of December—12/16. So, I am already thinking of the upcoming year with my birthdate. I was 53 this last birthdate. My children are 21 and 17—one will graduate from college next December and the other from high school in June. I am thinking more and more about change and what life will bring when my young adults begin to live their lives. So much of my life has been wrapped up in being sure they were OK, but now? I’m thinking it’s time for me to begin to think of where I want the rest of my life to go.
I find myself referring to 2 quotes:
"One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
And…
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.
John Wesley
My goals, resolutions if you will, include seeing with the heart and doing all all the good I can.
I will resolve to see myself, as well as others, with my heart. And to do all the good I can for myself, as well as others. If I am able to take care of myself, then I can more easily care for others. I’ve learned this the hard way. It is time.
How about all of you? Are you resolution makers? Or, do you prefer to move through life and to keep on keeping on without specifics? Each of us is different, and what works for one of us doesn’t work for others of us.
Please join us tonight and share thoughts of your day, week, year. Please feel free to request *prayer and good thoughts and vibes. Feel free to love and be loved. Feel free to be peaceful for a bit.