(Truth be told, this is as much for me as for all of you ~ and it’s swiped from a wonderful sales page(!) that Ariane Benefit sent out this morning. )
Happy New Year!
Every new year brings with it an opportunity for a fresh start. As you are reflecting, I hope you find yourself delighted by the progress you have made in your life in the past year.
My personal benchmark is to look for not only “what” I’ve accomplished, but also at “who” I’ve become.
Have I become
- a little wiser? more peaceful?
- a little more patient? more compassionate?
- a little kinder to myself and others?
- a little more accepting of my new normal as each year of aging affects my body?
I know I’ll never be perfect and in fact, I no longer even want to be! I’ve found that what I used to think of as my weaknesses (like not having a biological clock, or not following orders well) are actually what makes it possible for me to deeply connect with people and be forgiving and compassionate. They are actually my sources of strength. Each little struggle makes me that much stronger.
There is no healing for the holes in your soul like being able to see yourself as you are and liking what you see.
In 2013, my deepest wish for you is to have lots of moments every day where you stop for a minute, pause the endless stream of what isn’t done yet, and just give yourself credit.
- Credit for all that you are putting up with.
- Credit for all that you are going through, and
- Credit for somehow still being a caring, giving, creative and generous person who is always ready to help someone in need.
~~~
My wishes for us all in 2013 ~
- May you feel the Love you are surrounded by with an open heart
- May you be Gentle with yourself and with others
- May you see the Beauty that is in the World with new eyes
- May you Grow in wonderful and unexpected ways
Bright Blessings, my dears!
December 31, 2012 at 12:10 pm
Happy New Year, Karen. I like what you said about your weaknesses actually being what allows you to connect more deeply with others. I used to of think my highly social nature as a liability which kept me from creating. Now I am finding ways to feed my creative needs without any plans of becoming a hermit.
This past year has been a wonderful year of growth for CJ and me. Instead of approaching things as an I-need-to-fix-this project, I am working on myself (health through exercise and nutrition, meaningful work, fostering relationships through listening). My relationships have evolved – some in ways I had not anticipated.
So glad we found you in 2012 and looking forward to continuing our communication in 2013.
December 31, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Hooray for the “power of Reframing the question”! Ariane is very good at that.
Shanna Mann actually made the concept click for me, and Felicia Slattery turned me on to the idea “in so many words”, years ago. (There’s even a post in here, somewhere, about “Turning the Box” …)
Delighted to be making your acquaintance, too, my dear!
Here’s to More Growth in 2013, for all of us! {clink!}
January 1, 2013 at 9:28 am
Hi Karen! We got a new year’s present here – they are letting me connect to internet for an hour. So delighted to check my email and see you posted and excerpt from my email article and shared my new program!
Shanna Mann is awesome. I’ve been meaning to connect with her for quite some time now. Tammi – so glad you are not “fixing” yourself – I am choosing the word “cultivating” from now on. No more improving. I’ve decided I’m worthy as I am – the more i cultivate, the more the issues tend resolve on their own. Like a garden. Take care of it well and you have fewer bugs, illnesses, and you get stronger roots – naturally. I found in my garden the more I keep trying to “fix” pest problems the worse they get. So glad I started learning to garden 12 years ago…it’s taught me and healed me more than all the therapy I’ve ever had.
Happy New Year!
January 25, 2013 at 9:01 pm
Oh, Ariane!
Thank you so much for that insight: “…the more I keep trying to “fix” pest problems the worse they get”! That applies in soooo many different life-contexts, too.
February 20, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Hi. I’m looking for Ms. Karen J. Little who used to live many years ago in 4965 West Cavalier Drive, Glendale, Arizona, 85301. My father and her were pen pals when they were young. He is still living. He’s 69. I found some letters from USA, Mexico, Bahamas, Brazil and Spain written by his friends. I just wanted to find out if there are anyone still living somewhere and thank them for being part of my father’s life.
facebook: Carlos A. Carrillo
twitter: @cacv1272
February 20, 2013 at 11:28 pm
Greetings, Carlos!
What an honorable quest you’ve taken on! I’m not ‘your’ Karen J., but I do have friends in the Phoenix area who may be able to help… check back here in a week or so…
Meanwhile, feel free to read around here – and Good Luck to you, and Bright Blessings to you AND you father!
February 21, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Thank you so much, Ms. Little, I appreciate your interest.
I will be reading your articles.
Blessings to you and your family too.
Carlos.
February 21, 2013 at 2:38 pm
I’m sorry, I just realized you are not Little, just Karen J. (I’m sorry, my mistake).
February 21, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Totally not a problem, Carlos!
I looked at your first post, scratched my head a bit, and saw immediately where the confusion probably came from!
You are welcome here, no matter how you got here, and I will forward your search information to my people near Phoenix.