Closing the Door on 2008

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." - Hal Borland

Whatever has happened over the past year, you can curse it, or love it. With cursing, you suffer more grief. With love, you are free to create more of what you most want in your heart of hearts. With love, you get to celebrate the gift of your life, the gift of who you are.

"There exists only the present instant... a Now which always and without end is itself new. There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but only Now, as it was a thousand years ago and as it will be a thousand years hence." Meister Eckhart


Whatever you may feel bad about in 2008, forgive yourself now. To forgive is one of the most profound acts of loving we can ever take, either towards ourselves or others. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Forgiving will set you free to create the life of your dreams.

"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it." Mark Twain

Of course, I'm not the genius that came up with these thoughts - they are excerpts taken from an e-mail sent to me by a co-worker. The author - Ann Naylor. Actually, it was a four page document on "How to Close The Door on 2008" but I edited the content to the points that I feel are most relevent to me - particularly the concept of "Forgiveness."

Forgiving others for the wrongs they have inflicted upon me is one of the most difficult things I have had to learn to do. I was one to "carry a grudge" and vowed to never forget the deed nor forgive the person. It was a heavy burden to carry. At this particular moment, I can't remember what strategy (or strategies) I used, I just remember thinking one day - it's not doing me any good to carry this around with me, day in and day out. It was eroding my inner peacefulness and was not allowing room for joy.

As I reflect on 2008, it was a year of highs and lows, peace and turmoil, joy and sadness. The ending of old friendships and the beginning of new ones.

I look foward to 2009 with all the wisdom and experience life has to offer.