We are rounding the Third week of the New Year and Maybe like me you are starting to feel that excitement and Hope that a New Year Brings, slowly fading.
As a new calendar is hung, we have the anticipation of filling the empty pages with new and exciting adventures. We desperately try to hold tight to the things that bring us Joy and Hope. Such as our Faith, family, and Friends.
For a brief moment we think about the possibilities that are ahead.
Wanting a fresh start, some of us make New Year’s Resolutions. We may take part of the traditions of Eating certain things representing long life, good luck, abundance, and wealth. Or maybe you choose a word of the Year to help you focus on goals and actions you want to make priority this year.
Then as the day’s pass we realize the same baggage we have been carrying, hinders our celebration.
Our Battles vary, but one thing that we all can agree on is that battles do not disappear because a calendar page flipped.
What can we do about this cloud that seems to follow us even when our Hearts are full of anticipation?
First, I think it is important to Identify the Battle – Is it health, relationship, finances? Maybe it is all of them. As a Chronic Illness community its More than likely that our Battles are Layered.
Secondly, I think it is important that we practice self-love. Logically we know that the battle we have been fighting for an extended period of time, isn’t just going to disappear with the ringing of the New Year, but we can still have Hope.
As we let the Heart and mind come together, we may need to take some time to grieve. If there was any gift I could give everyone of you is the awareness of grieving what you thought or think your life should look like and letting go.
Working through the steps of grieving that “picture” you dreamed of allows us the space for new possibilities. Isn’t that what a New Year is all about?
Think about it this way.
During the Holidays we have been a little better as a society of recognizing that not all people are experiencing a joyful season. We are not perfect, but the conversations are starting to be had. It is commonplace to see social media posts regarding having the Holiday season with a missing Loved one.
Much like that person that we grieve as we encounter that empty seat, someone with a Chronic illness will experience a mindfulness to the Battle that we are fighting and that empty seat may be the life we expected.
We never considered that the Battle would be over as the 2nd hand move to the 12, but we are sensitive to the starting fresh.
At some point in time the Battle is staring you in the face and you have a decision to make.
Do I hold onto that Hope and Anticipation of the blank page’s and fill them with new possibilities? Or do I sit with the empty seat. (Sometimes we need to sit with the empty seat, but we don’t want to stay there.)
We are Warriors and the longer we fight this Battle the more we understand that Hope and Anticipation are tools that we can cling onto. It won’t always be easy, but from experience I can share it is WORTH IT!
I would love to hear from you, what is something you are hoping you can write in the Empty Pages of your New Calendar?
Please Remember Warriors are known for conquering the Enemy when they join together, so don’t do it alone.
