GO GENTLY, JOYFULLY INTO THE NEW YEAR

Whew! One more holiday to go this year! I hope your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, or whatever you celebrate, was enjoyable for you. And now we come to New Years. This is traditionally a time to make resolutions to do more and better things in the upcoming year, and to reflect on what we did the past year. Did you pull up last years’ resolutions on your computer to see how you did? Could you find last years’ resolutions? Is this one of your goals for the next year, to be more organized?  Don’t worry, most of us would like to be more organized. And thinner, and to exercise more, make more money, spend our time more wisely, eat better food, drink more water, etc. We all have so many things on our “to do” list, it’s discouraging to even look at it sometimes!


But what about all those good things you did do? Did you help someone less fortunate than yourself? Did you spend time with someone who needed to talk? Did you use a reusable bag at the grocery store once or twice? Drag your full recycle bin to the curb? Drink a little more water, make a few more healthy food choices, and cut back on some of the bad ones? Take care of an animal that needed you? Smile at a child? Use your turn signal? Gracefully give up a seat, your place in line, or a parking spot? Vote? Do jury duty? Give a donation to your favorite charity? Send a cheerful letter or email to brighten someone’s day? Patiently answer a question? Give needed information? Went to work when you really didn’t feel like it?


These are all small acts of goodness that mean a lot. I know you did several of these things, without even thinking about them. So if you didn’t accomplish all your goals, try again this coming year, but pat yourself on the back for all that you did. Be kind and gentle to yourself, because you are your primary care giver. Love yourself, treat yourself well. Be your own cheerleader, then you can spread that love and cheer to others.