I love this time of year. It's quite a "Christmas miracle" that we are able to collectively, for the most part, close up shop and allow the time and space for families to get together and share food, drink and gifts. In our world of hustle and bustle, it truly is a rare gift.
We look at the ending of the calendar as the beginning of new chances. It's symbolic of all the possibilities that we may desire. I've often wondered why the calendar begins in January, when it's cold and the land is in its dormant stage, instead of the Spring, when the new shoots of life are emerging from a still-frosty ground. And so I researched it, as any smart modern person would do, by "Googling". What I learned is that Julius Caesar, back in the day as he led the Roman armies into battle, conquering land and people alike, decided to create the Julian Calendar. He chose January 1st to be the start of the new year in honor of the Roman god Janus, the god of doors and gates. He had two faces, one facing backward and the other forward, which Caesar thought important and symbolic as we leave the past behind and move into the future.
Although I believe that Caesar's motives were ego based, and obviously there were many more reasons that he chose January 1st as the start of the new year, I do actually really appreciate the sentiment and metaphor of Janus. It's good to have a time that we can, collectively in humanity, leave the past behind us and start over. It's good to let go and free yourself of beliefs and patterns that bring you down or hold you back from your potential.
And, we are but potential. Every day of every year, we have the opportunity to learn something new, meet someone interesting, explore a new idea, forgive someone who wronged us, ask for forgiveness when we have wronged, tell someone they are special, live like there is no tomorrow and cross exciting things off of our bucket lists! We are OPPORTUNITY. Sometimes we may get into a funk where the visor is pulled down low over our eyes, so we can't see the path we are intended, but trust me... the path is there, right in front of you. Make your choices thoughtfully, as each choice carves out new opportunities. Don't be afraid to shift gears and make different choices, if the original choices aren't panning out as expected. When you realize that you aren't on your best path, you CAN do it over, systematically, but making better, more ecological choices again and again.
Align yourself this new year with opportunities that help you live your best life. Peace my friends.
