Painting by Sliman Mansour, Palestinian Artist and Sculptor
Last year, we — meaning our community- completed 2022 on a very sad note as a dear friend’s son left this material life too soon, and we were very sad.
This year, we- meaning the whole globe- is in much greater mourning and sadness at the bombings in Gaza that have killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians, all victims of a geopolitical game too complex and cunning for simple folks like us to figure out, let alone comprehend. In our simple ways, we get swept up in the emotions of hate and revenge leading to dehumanization and sweeping generalizations, while the weapons makers and politicians and lobbyists and media puppeteers count up their millions of dollars of profit. Dangerous stereotypes surface again only to hurt ordinary people again and again. There are no sides- there is humanity and kindness and there is inhumanity and brutality only, and it comes in all colors.
I have a hard time saying “Happy” New Year. How can I say that when thousands are starving and dying from bombs in Palestine? The extreme inequity in that conflict has broken our hearts, more than other conflict areas and more so because it is in the Holy Land. Christmas was cancelled because of the bombings and Baby Jesus was represented lying in a rubble like thousands of Palestinian babies. What would Jesus have to say? What would any prophet have to say? Does anyone care anymore?
How will 2024 be different? We do not know and we do not have control. We do have control over our own beings and our own actions. When you see such brutality, all you can do is run in the other direction. All you can ask is “what good can I bring to this world?”. That alone should be our mission in 2024. At least this is what I am doing- making a list of how to be amidst this chaos and sadness and ugliness- a long list of daily intentions:
- Increase my daily gratitude for all the goodness and blessings in my life already
- Meet my sadness with silence, acceptance and inner peace
- Remind myself of the transience of all things and beings
- Be more compassionate- forgive myself and others
- Model respect and dignity and inclusion for all
- Advocate for freedom and liberty and justice for all
- Appreciate the abundance of diversity- say YES to difference!
- Tap into your own talents- What can I offer to make a difference?
- Honor loving relationships and bonds with greater presence- be in the moment
- Continue to use every moment to learn
- Monitor your mindfulness as a daily struggle- How did I do today?
- Manage your triggers — when triggered go within to explore the source
- Use adversity as a teacher — what is this teaching me?
- Increase my generosity to the needy- who is suffering and what can I do?
- Educate others about structural changes needed- look behind the curtain of world affairs and shed light on the darkness
- Serve where you can serve best
Long gone are the days of setting New Year’s resolutions with fixed goals and measures. This is an intention to focus on behaviors and habits and ways of being; many of them are linked so observing yourself is not so overwhelming after all. There is no measure of success, no milestones, no celebrations- there is just the dogged journey in the direction of the intention. And that is sufficient for me.
So as I look out to the New Year, I pray for more sanity, more humanity, more kindness and love all around me and my family and my friends and our beautiful Earth and all its inhabitants. Every being is precious, as I was reminded a few days ago when we welcomed another grandchild, a little boy to add joy to our clan in the New Year. His name means “Light”, which is so beautiful and appropriate. May every child land safely on Earth and be protected and safe and healthy and happy surrounded by family. May every child’s dreams matter. May my grandson and his generation bring about change so that peace and joy and harmony prevail on Earth, and we stop hurting each other so much.
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