2018 Was it Good or Bad?
Politically and socially, 2018 was a bad year for our country with human rights being under attack and some truly shameful things being orchestrated by our government. It feels as if the moral fiber of our country has been torn apart. The sight of children in caged spaces, torn apart from their parents is something I will never forget. The mass shootings that have taken place nearly every week is appalling. Fear and anger reign, yet so few speak up. Bad times indeed. I thought our country was so much better than this. Though we cannot control everything that is going on around us, we can and must find avenues to fight the good fight against all that is bad by speaking up often and, activism of any kind. What we can control is ourselves and how we choose to experience our lives. Once we have a handle on our well being, we will be better equipped to handle and help with the outside. It's important to separate the universal from the personal because it helps us to balance reality so that we don't get lost in our surroundings and become consumed by desperation. With all of this in mind I would definitely say that 2018 was a bad year for all that I have listed above, and for so much more I have omitted. However, for myself, 2018 was a good year. So here is a look at some ways that we can decide how our year really went.
I remember so clearly when New Year's Eve 2017 turned into 2018. I KNEW is was going to be a good year and it was. It was a year of the profound loss of a friend we had known for over 40 years. There was worry, frustration and anger, but there was also joyful moments, trips, good health and love that more than balanced any sorrows. Over any 12 month period there is bound to be bad moments that you would rather not experience but yet, you know it's inevitable. For myself, the key has been to focus on all that was good and to realize that the good far outnumbered all that was a struggle. As spiritual beings, we were not meant to live a carefree life. We chose to live a life where we can have the full experience. Our soulful selves embrace challenges and revelle in the small moments that give us joy and contentment and the challenging ones as well. Challenges give us the opportunity for personal growth. Once I had the feeling it was going to be a great year, I drew that as my reality. This helped me over the not so great moments, by making me realize that all moments, both good and bad are temporary and are part of the human experience.
When you review your own year, make a list on a piece of paper so you can see all that was good far outnumbered the days that were not. For every day that you had a meal and a warm place to sleep, that was a good day. For every day that you had the love of a fellow human or animal, it was a good day. For every day that you could get out of bed and walk around, it was a good day. These are just a few examples. It's always the small things that add up to so much and yet we forget the small things as if only big events in our lives (both good and bad) are important.
Wishing you all the best in 2019.
I remember so clearly when New Year's Eve 2017 turned into 2018. I KNEW is was going to be a good year and it was. It was a year of the profound loss of a friend we had known for over 40 years. There was worry, frustration and anger, but there was also joyful moments, trips, good health and love that more than balanced any sorrows. Over any 12 month period there is bound to be bad moments that you would rather not experience but yet, you know it's inevitable. For myself, the key has been to focus on all that was good and to realize that the good far outnumbered all that was a struggle. As spiritual beings, we were not meant to live a carefree life. We chose to live a life where we can have the full experience. Our soulful selves embrace challenges and revelle in the small moments that give us joy and contentment and the challenging ones as well. Challenges give us the opportunity for personal growth. Once I had the feeling it was going to be a great year, I drew that as my reality. This helped me over the not so great moments, by making me realize that all moments, both good and bad are temporary and are part of the human experience.
When you review your own year, make a list on a piece of paper so you can see all that was good far outnumbered the days that were not. For every day that you had a meal and a warm place to sleep, that was a good day. For every day that you had the love of a fellow human or animal, it was a good day. For every day that you could get out of bed and walk around, it was a good day. These are just a few examples. It's always the small things that add up to so much and yet we forget the small things as if only big events in our lives (both good and bad) are important.
Wishing you all the best in 2019.
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