“The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it, but we will escape it only by adding something better to it. “~ Wendell Berry
We’re one week into the new year and I find myself still reflecting on the old year; how to avoid the mistakes of the past and build a better today. Learning mindfulness in order to really appreciate and be in the now, since that’s all we really have.
Great post Stuart! Your knack for “shucking” the mundane and finding something marvelous is something I want to learn, so I’ll be following. Thanks for stopping by my blog; I want my readers to meet you if they haven’t already.
On a recent evening commute, a woman boarded the bus and rushed towards me. Rather than sit, she seemed to fall into the empty seat beside mine, a mound of heavy coat, thick scarf, and several bags. She wedged a bag between her feet and dug through her purse producing a pen and ragged notepad. Flipping frantically through its frayed pages, she peered at me over glasses perched on the tip of her nose.
“I have to make a list of things I’m thankful for.” she said with irritation.
I didn’t ask why, but glanced at her notepad. She was grateful for some important things, with “health” and “job” written so far on her list. She saw me looking.
“I need ideas. What are you thankful for?” She sounded aggravated.
I thought back to when my daughter was small. I told the woman how my daughter’s eyes lit up when we…
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In my last post of December 30th, where I talked about making positivity one of my New Year’s resolutions, I used the following quote:
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” ~ Bill Vaughan
So, how do you describe someone who doesn’t stay up at all?
Unlike many years prior, I fell asleep around 10:00 pm. I didn’t don a plastic lei and party hat or watch the annual entertainment TV shows; the only thing I was rock’in on New Year’s Eve was a flannel nightgown and a strong desire for sleep.
But that’s to be expected. I was up at 6 am to catch a 9:40 flight from Orlando to Pittsburgh for a visit back to my hometown. My significant other (whom I’ll call SO) picked me up at the airport and we drove an hour to my former home and place of employment to say hello to a few coworkers and friends. From there we went for an early dinner at my favorite restaurant. With a full belly and warm shower my next stop was dreamland.
New Year’s Eve as a child was the official end of the holidays and pretty much a non-event after the excitement of Christmas. My parents got all gussied up and went out to party with their friends. The next morning my siblings and I enjoyed the funny looking hats and noisemakers that we always found on the dining room table; remnants of our parents’ celebration.
As a teenager I welcomed in the new year by attending house parties and later, after turning 21, bars and nightclubs. Once I married and the children came along I stayed home, renting movies and making our favorite snacks. They got a kick out of staying up late to watch the festivities in Times Square and I got a kick out of watching them.
The theme of many of my posts tends to be “times sure have changed,” but that’s par for the course for someone at mid life and older. We’ve cycled through childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood. We’ve witnessed a lot of changes in our society and the world. We’ve become our parents and grandparents.
Therefore, falling asleep on New Year’s Eve might signal advancing age and just plain sleepiness, both of which applied to me Thursday night. But I also consider myself a realist. So, maybe we can say the following:
A realist doesn’t stay up at all because they know the new year will be waiting in the morning…once again.
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