This time of year is one of reflection and
hopefulness. We look back on the year that was, sometimes with pride and joy or
perhaps sadness or even relief that it's over. And we look forward to the year
that will be: full of promise, like starting that book you've been wanting to
read.
People often refer to the new year as a blank slate
or book of blank pages waiting to be written by you. It's about turning over a
new leaf and making resolutions to "be better", whether that means losing 30 lbs
or quitting smoking or planning the perfect wedding. But a friend of mine
described the coming year as "an incredibly complex puzzle" that she has to
"decode". For her, it's about hanging on to what did work last year and getting
rid of what didn't. Her musings really spoke to me because it's not about
setting lofty and unattainable goals. Or "getting it right" and being perfect.
This view comes from the realistic perspective that
we are fallible, imperfect and always changing. There is no absolute when it
comes to life plans. Oh, maybe for a very determined few, but not the vast
majority of us. We will always be learning. We will always need to adapt and
change. There will always be both great happiness and great pain in our lives.
And choosing to be "okay" with this is probably the best resolution any of us
can make.
So as I very gratefully, but respectfully, shut the
door on 2013, and take a good look at the puzzle that is 2014, I wish you and
your families "Happy Decoding"!
Happy
sweeping!
Kathleen Gunther
Editor, ContestHound.ca
