2018 - Part Two

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something."   - Neil Gaiman

     I'm not done yet, not by a long shot.  As the new year approaches, and I am quieted by the cold weather, there is nothing more warming than knowing that my life needs to have a purpose.  I wish a life of purpose for everyone.  What that purpose is remains an individual choice but none the less, a life with purpose is the energy that feeds us.

     I see 2018, not without its challenges.  I see 2018 not without a variety of insurmountable odds and at the same time, not without joy.  It's going to be a lot like going to Great Adventure and riding on "King Da Ka."  Thrilling, exciting, not without nausea, and that feeling in the pit of your stomach, but you can't get off the ride.  The ride doesn't stop for just one person's inabilities.  You get off the ride when everyone else does.  Now, the choice to go back on is entirely up to each of us but once you're on, you're on.  It does help when you take that ride with a supportive partner.  Love is a roller-coaster ride unto itself. However, we all need support and we all need love, in all of its shapes and sizes.  

     Author of self-help books, Melodie Beattie wrote, "Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls."  She also wrote about the importance of goals.  Now goal setting is challenging and often disappointing.  But when we can share our hearts with others, when we give part of ourselves to others, we have already accomplished more than we can possibly imagine.  To discover empathy, means we have the ability to walk in another's shoes and see their point. We don't have to agree with it but if we understand where they are coming from, we can find peace.

     Becoming a teacher was not a difficult decision but the day to day immensity of issues that surface with my students has been over-overwhelmingly difficult.  I choose to give more on those days not less.  When my relationships are disappointing or I feel that I am extremely misunderstood, I have to think of another way of communicating what I need for my own sanity and through the years, I have become much better at that.  When I write, or when I am fortunate enough to be on stage, what feeds me is laughter.  What feeds me is the excitement and the sound of my shoes hitting the stage floor, delivering lines to an audience who wants nothing more than to come to the theater to forget their problems for a while.  When they laugh, I am satisfied.  I have found a purpose with every bow.

     When I am home, I watch my husband cook and I see how much energy and although there will most definitely be a huge mess afterwards, I become the willing partner and clean up after him.  Eating healthy is his purpose so I can't ignore that.  We are healthier, lighter and fulfilled.  There will always be dirty dishes, laundry to do and clutter, but it is our clutter, we earned it.  We are lucky to have it. Many are not. 

     When can wish all we want for things that seem beyond our reach but the real gratitude is not looking ahead but living with what we are experiencing now.  If we crave change, we have to appreciate what we have first and although scary, change can happen over time.  There is no room for passive-aggressive behavior.  We need to make our peace with our decisions or if we can't, find a way to do so without regrets.  A life with purpose can simply mean understanding where someone else is coming from and allowing them to come to their own conclusions.  I have discovered that if someone needs my help, they will ask for it.  When I need help, I ask for it.  I am not afraid to ask those I trust to help me come to a solution.

     The world can become empty and exhausting if we let it.  We need to feed our souls with love, friendship and honesty.  2018 seems rather mysterious.  We can not be afraid.  We simply raise our glass and welcome another day, another year.  To not, means we are doing ourselves a grave injustice. Bring it on 2018.  Shut the door on the past, lick your wounds and never be afraid of love.   Don't be eager to please in 2018, be eager to appreciate the purpose of your life and go from there...The people in your life are counting on that for sure...