Another fresh new year is here...

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

 

This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest...

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

 

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs!

 

- William Arthur Ward

(American scholar, author, editor, pastor and teacher)

 

Happy New Year!

 

I read this poem at the end of last Friday morning's yoga practice. I think it puts into words the way I see the new year, as a fresh new start. To me the new year is like getting a brand new notebook at the beginning of the school year, waiting to be filled with whatever the assignments are for that particular subject. Usually by the end of the year my notebooks would inevitably become an eclectic mix of assignments I was required to do, and lots of doodles, not only in the margins but on the covers too.  To this day I still love to doodle finding it relaxing, and meditative, helping me think.  I would also write expressive letters to myself, or others, filled with my observations about the day, hopes, complaints, whatever the feeling du jour happened to be! Of course, these pages would get torn out leaving behind the telltale ragged pieces of paper.

Here it is again, a fine new notebook, entitled January 2015, and I am just cracking it open to begin the process. Ironically this notebook will look similar to my school ones.  There will be

stuff I have to do, all those responsibilities and obligations that come with day-to-day life, but also making time for relaxation and fun.  I will try my best to be present with whatever life has in store for me this year, accepting the fact that the ragged edges are just as important as the smooth.  And my notebook would not be complete without an abundance of feelings yet to be

felt and expressed.  What I do know about this year is this, Body Grace will continue to be a big part of my life, and I am looking forward to experiencing 2015 with all of you!

With warm gratitude,

Jan