"Looking Forward To The Future"

Welcome to 2010, everyone!

My husband and I did something very different last night for New Year's Eve (well, for us anyway!): we stayed at home, and did.....virtually nothing!

At first, I thought maybe it was a sign that we were getting older. Actually, we've had a couple of sick kids in the house this week, and between all of us just needing to "kick back" and relax, we really didn't need to spend any money on hosting or attending a big New Year's celebration. To me, last night turned out to be a special Blessing.

All the boys were home for dinner last night, and we shared a simple but delicious meal of home-made turkey and rice soup, and fresh bread. I then attended Mass at our local parish in celebration of the "Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God," celebrated on January 1st of each year. While this particular feast day in the Catholic church holds its own special importance and meaning to us as Catholics, last night's Mass and the homily our pastor shared with us was particularly poignant at the start of this new year, and new decade. I couldn't help but notice how full the church was last night, and I could tell by looking at the sea of faces in the congregation (I lead music as a Cantor) that Father's message on this New Year's Eve was touching everyone... the sense of hope and anticipation was definitely palpable.

I'm ashamed to say that I don't remember the last time I attended Mass on New Year's Eve. My youngest son attended the service with me last night, and I mentioned to him as we were leaving that "it just felt - right." My son agreed, and we discussed how appropriate it was to begin the new year in that spirit of peace, reflection, and hope.

Through the remainder of the evening as we quietly "chilled" together in front of the television, I began to recognize the ways we celebrate, and then understand why we celebrate the coming of a new year. Yes, it's the beginning of another start, another chance.....a "do-over." But more importantly, I believe it's because we're grateful for the renewed gift of hope.

As I watched several television hosts interview various celebrities and members of the public within their live audiences, I noted that many of them made reflections on the many difficulties and hardships our country (and the world) continued to experience in 2009. While it seems that everyone had some sort of comment on either the economy, the war, health care concerns or the relations of our world in general, it occurred to me that everyone was also happy. Not dwelling on the past, not dwelling on the negatives, not dwelling on all the things that have gone "wrong..." but hopeful for what can be.

Hope. Without dreams and visions of greater possibilities we are lost - stuck in an endless loop of treading water, doing the same things the same way. Without hope and the ability to dream, the human race would never accomplish, achieve, or improve. The word "future" would not be in our vocabularies, for what would we have to look forward to?

Like many of you, throughout 2009 our family experienced much: heartaches, health-scares, tragedies, financial woes. Yet in between these "speed-bumps" we've also experienced the gift of new friendships, strengthened or re-kindled relationships, lessons learned, accomplishments made and personal victories won. I can honestly say (even though it is in hind-sight!) that I wouldn't change a thing....well, maybe the financial part! But we've continued to grow, even through the "bad" stuff, and I know deep within that 2010 will hold just as much, if not more, of those same gifts for each and every one of us.

A New Year is a time to celebrate, and look forward. And when mankind looks toward the future together - in a spirit of hope - our dreams and desires, even if held only briefly, are the same. Basically, we all want the same things - worldwide, black or white, male or female, young or old: to love and be loved, health, shelter and safety, peace in our future and our children's future. Anything else (in my opinion) is icing on the cake.

"The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started."

- Norman Cousins (American Essayist and Editor)

As you begin your New Year, may you and yours look toward the future with great expectation and Joy, and may you be Blessed with hope in all you attempt or undertake.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." - Albert Einstein

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Pay it forward - spread a smile!

Clip-art courtesy of Google images.

"Christmas - the Afterglow"

Wow - a new year is coming! Time for new beginnings, new looks, bright ideas, fresh starts....and a "new" blog site! While doing my holiday baking, shopping, wrapping, and crafting, I was also designing and laying out plans for the new "look" and format you see here.

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is actually a time that I personally cherish. While the major excitement of Christmas is over...the presents opened and put away, the traveling and visiting (pretty much) completed, the food eaten (and left-overs almost gone!), and the kids are still home on break enjoying their spoils from Santa, I've developed a habit over the years of using this week to reflect and re-direct.

While I've always known that I did this, it didn't really occur to me until a few days ago that it had become an annual "habit." I often find myself lost in thought and reflection - the "hulla-ba-loo" of Christmas preparations overwith, and the calendar not as busy! Without going through the actual motion of writing down New Year's resolutions, the week following Christmas finds many of us in not just a "let down" from all the Christmas festivities, but in a state of reflection and planning. I believe those of us who are old enough and mature enough, really understand the importance and gravity of what it means to have another opportunity to "start over" and begin again....in a new year.

This might be one reason I (personally) am not in any rush to remove all my Christmas decorations and trimmings. I almost always wait until the weekend after New Year's Eve to take everything down and put it away. The year isn't actually "over" yet, and I like to remember - just a little while longer, anyway - what Christmas is really about, and why I'm thankful for the holiday. I still feel the smiles, the excitement, the happiness, the love....the recent memory is a shining example of all that is right; of all that I have to be thankful for.

The world of retail is in a huge rush to tear any remnant of Christmas down. I actually witnessed this...I made the ridiculous attempt of returning an item the day after Christmas, and doing a little "bargain hunting." All the stores I entered were tearing down every bit of Christmas...one store even had a couple of aisles blocked off from customers while they stacked the shelves full of Valentine's Day items! How ironic that they can't wait to get the decor up (sometimes at Halloween!), and can't wait to get it down! It's all about moving from one holiday sale to the next....

This week, in the midst of all the left-overs, trash, and cleaning up, I'm continuing to remember

my blessings and "the reason for the season." I'm also re-directing and double-checking my priorities and personal goals - not in just the obvious areas that need improvement mind you, (like weight loss and leading a healthier life-style!); but those areas of spiritual growth and personal development where I might have come up "short" during the previous year. Determining where and how we need to make personal changes and improvements can take some time, and certainly a long, honest look into our inner selves. Taking time to slow down helps accomplish inner-reflection, and these few days - where many of us are still taking time off - are perfect for relaxing and reflecting, our calendars "in-between" holidays and empty of the usual schedules.

What better way to begin a new year than in a spirit of thankfulness, with a refreshed willingness to begin again? While the birth of Christ may be celebrated only once a year, the reason He came is cause for us to greet each New Year, each month, each week, each day...in Joy and thanksgiving. These few days leading up to "the next holiday" don't have to be boring or hectic - may you continue to bask in the warmth of family and friends this week, and in the "after-glow" of Christmas!

Pay it forward - spread a smile!