“Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot and days o’ Lang Syne?” “The literal meaning of “Auld Lang Syne” is “Old Long Since,” or “Long, Long Ago.” The lyrics talk about raising a toast to days gone by and all the joyous adventures embarked upon between friends.” We ring in the New Year singing an old song, which began as a poem. Most of us do not really ponder the words we sing because we are so used to singing them. Do we raise a toast to days gone by and all the joyous adventures of the past year shared with friends? On the other hand, do we simply toast hoping for a better year than last? How do you measure your life? How do you measure each day? What is the measurement you would use? A tape measure does not work, nor does an hourglass because often time seems to speed up or slow down and before we know it, another year has passed. Each New Year we make resolutions. Consider this as a way to consider re-solving what did not go the way we wanted the year before. A resolution is a promise to oneself to do or be better than we did the past year. Resolutions are often quickly forgotten promises broken without a second thought. We are busy with day-to-day living, and all those brilliant ideas lose their shine when we have to place our attention on making a living. This is a time of dramatic change. Whether we are open to it or not, change is forced upon each of us like no other time in our lives. For the past year in 2015, we felt as though walking on ice, slip sliding, unable to get a grip. There is no stable place to land in our lives. Nothing is certain – except change. The future looms before us. It takes courage, strength and hope to carry on, to let go of the past so we can allow for the present.
Fear knocked on the door. Faith opened it, and there was no one there. ~ ~ Author UnknownPicture the New Year as a blank slate. Visualize writing a list of what you want to accomplish in 2016. What is the most important? Is it to better your health, earn more money, better your relationships. or to increase your Spirituality? Where on the list do you write increase consciousness? Is that even possible, and if so, how to go about it? Consider gratitude. First, let us consider making a list of exactly what we are grateful for – even the smallest things. I began a new ritual for me at the beginning of 2014. I cut out text in magazines and glued it on a metal container with words to remind me of my goals, hopes and wishes. I then cut a slit in the plastic top of the container. I cut paper into small slips. Each night of 2014, before going to sleep, I wrote down one thing. I always begin by writing the date and day, and the words, “I am happy and grateful for ___________. Each night, I wrote one thing I was grateful for that day without repeating anything. I have continued my attitude of gratitude all through 2015. I have a huge stack of happy and grateful slips to remind me of all my blessings, no matter how small. New Year’s Eve, I emptied the container and read each one of the individual slips of my happiness and gratitude. To me, it sets the tone for the New Year each year. This will be my 3rd year of following this ritual I designed for myself.
I realized it does not take much to be happy and grateful by acknowledging not only the big events in my life, but also the little things that we often take for granted.
What really surprised me was reading the text I had pasted on my Gratitude Container.
Here is my container:
In 2015, I edited, formatted, created the covers for FIVE of my memoirs – now available in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com. I had not consciously intended publishing them this year, but some part of me knew when I created the container. Our higher power, our creative center, which is our soul, knows what we yearn for most, what will bring us fulfillment, and show us how we may achieve our highest potential!
Creating your container, do not edit or think of what text to paste on your container with your rational mind, instead – FEEL it, no matter how far-fetched or unattainable it may seem. You will be guided to your good.
This could be the year that you begin a similar ritual to remind yourself each night of the one thing you are grateful for that day.
An attitude of gratitude assures each of us of magnifying that for which we are grateful. No complaining, whining, or falling asleep worrying about what you did not accomplish that day. Instead, fall asleep with a smile on your face. Just think how that would make you feel! When you wake up the next morning, consider your first words smiling and saying, “Thank you! Thank you for the gift of another day.”
There is an affirmation that I repeat each morning, I have said this affirmation for decades. It has become second nature.
“I am alive, awake, alert, joyous and enthusiastic about life!” And so I AM!We all received many Happy New Year wishes from friends and relatives, now how about wishing yourself Happy New Day each day and being grateful in writing each night. Imagine yourself opening your own Gratitude Container on New Year’s Eve 2015, and reading each day’s happiness and grateful slip. You will become addicted to feeling good every night before going to sleep and waking each morning saying, “Thank You!” Each day is to be lived without the past casting a shadow over the present or worrying about tomorrow. Today is enough! My wish truly is for you to have a very Happy New Year filled with love, laughter, joy, good health, happiness, and gratitude. Blessings Be, Jussta © 2016 Jussta All Rights Reserved Find Jussta’s memoirs on Amazon in either paperback or Kindle. Jussta’s Memoirs on Amazon.com Journey of a Soul – Part I – House of Wounded Hearts Journey of a Soul – Part II – Money, Deeds, or Sorrow Journey of a Soul – Part III – The House of Law Journey of a Soul – Part IV – The Land Beyond Goodbye Journey of a Soul – Part V – Miracles From The Fire Views:]]>
