Time for a new year

OK, apologies for the long absence. I never meant to wait this long to update this. But, as we all have happen - life got me distracted and on to different things. However, this morning, when I noticed it was New Year's Eve, I thought "What a perfect time to get back on track."

So, here I am.

Now that we gather tonight to say farewell to one year and pin our hopes to a new one, I think a call to focus on the positive in life is in order. I was reading Mark Nepo's The Book of Awakening and I found a passage that I think will help with our thoughs for the New Year.

In this one particular passage, he writes of a tradition in a certain section of Africa. There the natives have a verbal greeting they use whenever they see someone on their daily travels. One says - "I see you" - while the other replies - "I am here." Now, on face value, I admit, that sounds a little goofy.  I mean, here's to a grasp of the obvious!

But Nepo discusses the deeper meaning and why it is a traditional greeting. The key to it is recognizing each other and a little bit of validation. How often do you struggle in life and find yourself thinking - it's like I don't exist, no one sees me? I think we all get so caught up in the day-to-day struggles that we don't really see the people and things around us. It's like the person who passes you in the hall, says "How's it going?" and is around the corner before you can respond. Why did you even ask if you weren't going to stick around and listen? We go through the motions.

I like the concept of "I see you." It says I recognize you're there and who you are on this planet. I think it harkens back to a time when we stopped and recognized that we are all caught up in the rat race and need to stop to acknowledge each other. How are you? What's going on?

Invest a little time in your life and your friends' lives. That's the kind of investment that will really pay dividends. Rushing to meet that deadline may get the project out in time. But what if the slight of your friend deprives you the opportunity to help them through a difficult time or moment? Was it really worth it in the end?

"I am here" makes me smile too, because it feels like a personal shout out to the universe. I may be one small speck in the entirety of the universe, but dammit, I'm here. That counts for something. May count for everything on some days.

So, as we venture into 2015 - a year filled with promise and hope - here's a toast to make time to reconnect. To all my friends and family, I see you.