My New Year’s Wish for You

As we cross into 2017, it feels like we’ve just rolled out a long, clean white scroll before us with the heading “My Life in 2017” at our feet. We begin to stroll down this pristine and promising path, writing our story as we go. If you’re like most of us humans, you’ve hit a few bumps in the road in 2016 and may even feel a little tentative about how you’ll fare in 2017. Will you have what it takes to overcome disappointment or unwelcome surprises? Will you achieve the goals you have in mind? Dare you even write them down? Are you even worthy of having these things?

Prior to this new year, I spent the last few days considering moments in 2016 that stood out for me. I found plenty of things to be proud of – the chances I took that paid off – and, using a kind backward glance, a few “failures” that gave me great feedback. I’ll be back at it in 2017, knowing more than I did in 2016.  It’s been wonderful, as well, to see a client realize that no matter how 2016 may have fallen short of some of their desires, he or she can always list proud moments and things to be grateful for. Doing this allows us to come from a higher vibration and “put on” a winning attitude as we move into 2017. No matter what adversity befalls us, we never walk away completely empty-handed from the year that’s passed, even if it’s only holding the lessons. When we look deeper into a year that may have disappointed, we can least find moments of grace. The year I went through an invasive breast cancer diagnosis followed by surgeries, chemo and radiation was not a fun ride, but when I look back at the people who showed up and the beautiful moments in between the nasty stuff, not to mention all I learned about myself, I feel gratitude and deeply loved. As I got my strength back in the following year, I was so grateful for my life and became excited about the possibilities that lay before me – something I had never allowed in myself before. That nasty year changed everything. Not only the landscape of my life, but the person I’d become in the process: a dreamer who now felt deserving to have what she dreamt of.

I recall a line to an old song: “If wishes were horses, then dreamers would ride.” And that’s just what I’m inviting you to do: Dream. Fresh slates are good for that. The only reason it serves to look back on disappointments, missteps or upsets is to harvest the lessons. The rest is just fodder for lowering our confidence. Trusting in our abilities to not only handle what comes our way, but turn the lemons into lemonade is where we open up to taking more chances. We came to this Earth to play, learn and experience ourselves in relation to our environment, as well as to others. And because we’ve lived another year, we’re not the same person that began in 2016 or any prior year. We’ve acquired more skills and insights if we were paying attention. And if we weren’t paying attention, we can start now. As long as we’re breathing, the scroll before our feet remains clean and ready to be written upon. We technically don’t need a new year to venture out anew – just a new moment! And they come around all the time. So dream. Write it down. Not only what you think you can achieve in this new year, but list what you would ultimately love, then break it down into smaller bits. Sure, you can write down “clean out the garage,” but I’m guessing that it’s not going to light you up like “take the family to Rome” might. Start with what you would love and declare it! Then, start asking yourself, If I didn’t think this was impossible, what step could I take? For example, if your dream was to take your family to Rome, you could at least research the trip. A phrase my mentor, Mary Morrissey, would use here is “even baby steps will eventually take you up Mt. Everest.”

My wish for you is at least identify and become familiar with your dreams, not only for the new year, but for the landscape of your life. I am at your service should you want some help or guidance with this. My very best to you now and always.

-Susan