Bringing Intention into the New Year

New Year Poem

By May Sarton

Let us step outside for a moment

As the sun breaks through the clouds

And shines on wet fallen snow,

And breathe the new air.

So much has died that had to die this year.

We are dying from things.

It is a necessity – we have to do it.

Or we shall be buried under the magazines,

The too many clothes, the too much food.

We have dragged it all around

Like Dung beetles

Who drag piles of dung

Behind on which to feed,

In which to lay their eggs.

Let us step outside for a moment

Among ocean, clouds a white field,

Islands floating in the distance.

They have always been there.

We are going to drive slowly and see the small poor farms,

The lovely shapes of leafless trees

Their shadows blue on the snow.

We are going to learn the sharp edge

Of perception after a day’s fast.

There is nothing to fear.

I am writing on the eve of the Xmas holiday, a time that beckons us toward the possibilities inherent in the birth of a gifted spiritual teacher whose presence came to teach about love, forgiveness, true friendship, strength, and the spirit of generosity. It has been an active morning for me, preparing to go visit my sister-in-law, Gina, in Phoenix and other family and friends. Baking a pumpkin bread, helping my husband Russ choose special photos from 2023, and sending them to family and friends with a message of goodwill from each of us.

The year of 2023 has had its difficulties and surprises for us. Since we own a house and it was built in 1956, as it ages it gives us opportunities to repair it, because inevitably things wear out or fall apart. This was such a year and began in May 2023 with discovering that our home needed to be re-plumbed. After a search for a reliable plumbing company, we were informed that it would take about eight days to do the work required. We had ten men working on the situation over this time and although most of them were very nice people, we found out that the house would be left each day in a mess, there were many rooms that we could not use, a quite noisy environment existed, and errors the workers made showed up as the days unfolded.

Although it was hard to live in our home under these conditions, it was the right choice because we could be around when mistakes were made and then we could do our best to make sure things were corrected. Without saying too much more it turned out that the job took ten days and we had to do much touch-up work and further repair.

It was a true learning experience for me because I could see where I became reactive, upset, and sorrowful about the conditions. I learned that letting go of expectations, accepting things as they are, and having patience with changing unexpected conditions were essential in order to be mentally calm and neutral. It was a struggle for me but the conditions were real life and I had to remember to have gratitude for what was working and even for the fact that I had a house I could live in that was not falling apart.

The year then presented more opportunities with the surprise of oral surgery, an emergency hospital visit, and also good fortune in having a wonderful, kind, humane nursing and doctoring staff. It all turned out fine and I was better in five days. Once again gratitude for my body’s ability to heal.

The most recent and last surprise was when we returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving visit with my son, daughter-in-law, and grand-baby Katya in Woodland Hills only to arrive back home with a burglary in our living space and the theft of four laptop computers that my husband and I used for work. Then there was another repair of a new window, the mending of the east side of our home where they broke in, and the addition of a “Ring” camera on the outside of our home. Looking at the bright side of things after the initial shock of the house violation we were grateful the burglary was not worse--more of a mess, more stolen; that we were not home during this theft, and that we had the resources to repair the damage.

Thinking about all these events once again leads me back to the truth that moving forward from disruptive situations requires looking back and learning from potentially difficult life situations. What do I take with me for entering the New Year? How do I choose what my intentions will be and what resolutions will nourish my emotions, state of mind, and overall health?

I have found that the amazing value of my family is most important to me. Allowing my heart to open to love is a gift of life that is present with me moment by moment. I am in awe of how my love continues to grow, especially for my youngest son, daughter-in-law, and grandbaby Katya. So my intention and my vow for the forthcoming year is to let love grow, to never forget its presence, and to bring it with me in all relations.

In Loving friendliness,

Lhasha

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