A New Year ~ Make it a Happy One!

The first day of 2013 is here.  As I sit here looking out at the snow covered ground, watching a mockingbird flit about,    I think about what kind of year this will be.  It is cold outside, somewhat cloudy but my little mockingbird is not falling into the trap that this is anything but good.  Proud and happy, it flies about probably questioning the origin of the snowman sharing its front yard this morning.  It lives for today and rejoices in it.  

Actually, this new year will be whatever we choose to make it.  As I mentioned yesterday, we can dwell on the negative events that occur as part of our every day life or we can rise above them.  The challenge can very well be the "rising above" part.  For those of us who are working, healthy, and loved, it is relatively simple to rise above the pitfalls that come into our experience.  For those of us who have been unemployed for a year or more, who are dealing with life-threatening or chronic health conditions, who are facing divorce or the death of a loved one, it isn't so simple.  

So what does one do to stay focused on the positive?  First of all, much of the negative that comes into our experience is all about change.  Things change.  Change is about the only constant in life.  And change can be scary.  It is how we deal with it that makes all the difference. 

Years ago, I met a woman, a very spiritually evolved lady, who was dealing with a life-threatening dis-ease.  I knew of her from her writings and was somewhat surprised to learn of her challenge.  In fact, I was somewhat disappointed that a spiritually-evolved person would "allow" something like this to befall her.  I discovered though that through this challenge, she grew and became more of who she was meant to be.  The experience was part of her evolution.  

A minister once said "Lo, though we walk through the shadow of death, we don't have to build a condo there." So true.  I've walked through the shadow of death on a few occasions.  I've stayed in the condo a little too long on some occasions.  Pity parties were part of my social scene too many times.  Now, I may visit that "condo" but the rent is too high a price to pay to stay for long. 

Embrace the change.  How can it serve you or how can it better our world?  

There are tools available to assist in rising above the negative.  Stay open because the tools may be right in front of you.  One tool that may seem very simplistic and even somewhat ridiculous to many of you is something a friend posted on Facebook this morning.  I have copied it for you and intend to do this in 2013.

My question to you, if you plan on joining me with a collection of good things for 2013, is:

How big is your jar?

My New Year's Wish for you is a magical, mystical year filled with every conceivable Good.

Happy New Year!