A New Year's Message

In the last few months, I have had a slow but meaningful shift in myself at various levels, from mind, body to soul. Re-engaging after losing my way during a year where I lost much more than what I won at, one thing is that I have had so much revealed about me. It has helped to remove the scales from my eyes, and it is slowly changing my heart and soul into something that is unrecognizable.

A journey of personal growth is always one that takes a lifetime, but there are moments where the pace of the journey varies. 2007 was a year where the journey slowed, halted, and regressed, but then suddenly has made massive sumps. I have come to recognize the flaws and multitude of issues that I need to address, and this has not been easy. While this sounds familiar to most of you, I also realize that we all are flawed in our own little way. The difference is when one realizes the flaw, sees them for what they are, addresses and redresses them, and emerges in a transformed and enlightened manner. Seeking perfection will lead to eternal discontent, but that is not what I seek. What is clear is that in self-reflection, the self-destruction of negatives and the self-improvement through positives will lead one down to the right path, and this only comes through determination, endurance, hard work, and commitment.

There are so many of us that are blind to our own flaws, unwilling to shift as they are so sure of their own rightness. My first thought is this: never allow yourself to become immutable in a position (immutable meaning unmoveable). While enormous good can come from such actions, it is truer to say that the worst excesses have come from the stubbornness of people in their own beliefs. If anything, history’s worst excesses and decadence have been caused by an inability to accept difference and tolerance. Even at home, the worst of your arguments and fights are because of one’s inability to see the other side and the need to defend your own “rightness”. At the end of the day, which is more important? That you are right, or that you are happy?

Last night I had one of those nights that I will treasure, it was one of the most wonderful New Year’s Eve’s ever. I spent my evening with a group of people that, from all of their varied experiences, showed me how unimportant my personal suffering has been, and how much I had been focusing on my own pain, when around me there are people that have had it infinitely tougher. I shared a table with a couple that lost one of their parents, one lost their job, poor physical health, and other trials and tribulations that made mine pale into comparison. Another has no home and is living in a shared accommodation with 4 other people, and doesn’t have many prospects for work or a future. Another is going on the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling vessel, risking life and limb to support a very good cause for a few months. I realized that my reality isn’t that bad, and that millions have it worse. My second thought is his: Even at your worst, your position is not hell on earth. Others will have had it harder than you. I am personally guilty of ignoring this, but one makes their heaven by their own decisions and choices.

Another thing that has emerged from 2007 is that there will be a benefit from my journey. A very well known celebrity said that what inspired them was a massive emotional journey when they were a teenager in their personal life. From that, they resolved to never be in a position where they would be rejected, cheated on, or left behind again. It’s not to say that it won’t happen, but having a year of loss, I refuse to lose again.

In reality, I think 2008 will be a better year. I’ve already learnt so much, made new friends, been inspired to go to new heights and change on a grand scale, all of this within a day of stepping off into the New Year. I think I’ve done pretty well.

A prayer to finish:

I’ve been such a fool to spurn what you have given to me. You have provided insight into myself and what kind of person I was, bound up in my own life, focused and centred around myself. I thank you for showing me that I still have much to learn and far to go in becoming a person of true selflessness and sacrifice, in that what I do is not only for my own gratification, or for people that I know, but for a betterment of those around me whether I know them or not. I hope that all that are witness to this will benefit from the seeds that I now sow.

I hope and pray, whoever and wherever you are, that you will stand by me and with my as I undertake this journey. If I am weak and I struggle in my fight, you will lend and help me with your guidance and support, when your benevolent hand, eternal tolerance, loving voice, and guiding light will be reflected in my determination and commitment to the cause. With you by my side, I know that I can reach my goals and achieve whatever I wish to achieve.

Thank you for this chance, opening my eyes, showing the plank that still rests in my own and blocks my vision, showing me that I can remove this impediment, and helping me in my journey.

Please have a wonderful year and I hope to see you sometime soon.