The first golden thread of sunrise greeted me early this morning as I stood in front of the kitchen window facing east at our cabin in Virginia. It grew and spread and suddenly pulled the sun upward with it – a glorious explosion of brightness and the first sunrise of 2012.
Instantly, I thought of the predictions of the Mayan Calendar and the belief of many that this could be it – the very last sunrise of a new year.
And then I realized that for many of us, it will be the last. Whether or not we see it approaching, the sand will run out of the hourglass for some of us before the next year awakens.
So what are we supposed to do about it?
Steve Jobs said it best when he referred to death as a gift that propels us with a sense of urgency to accomplish what we came here to do.
I can think of no better way to honor his legacy and the spirit of a New Year, than to whip the reigns of our lives into action and toward our goals.
Leave the arguments, self-doubt, negativity, and stress behind and spend time with the people and the activities – or lack of activities as some of us need more time to just rock on the front porch – that make you happy.
No, we shouldn’t sell our homes and quit our jobs. But we should find joy in them. If you think you have a terrible job and a lackluster home – imagine losing them for a moment. It will make you a little more thankful for what you have.
And being thankful for what you have will bring more joy into your life.
I personally have little faith in the absence of Mayan symbols predicting the end of the earth. Perhaps they just got bored, had to race off to protect their property, or prepared a much longer calendar that was hit by a comet and destroyed. Who knows?
But I do know that we’ve got today to find something to be in awe of, whether it’s the sun’s glorious rays giving us a warm New Year’s Day, or the curiosity of a puppy as it explores its universe – (and destroys our ferns) – or the face of our spouse when we hand them a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Now that’s something to be thankful for!
I’m excited about 2012 and all of the things yet to come. And I hope you are too.
Happy New Year!
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Writingfeemail's Blog 
ooo.ooo…you nailed it, friend! Excellent!
Thanks Georgette. Happy New Year.
Let’s raise our glasses and toast to a “HAPPY 2012”
Clink! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Back at ya!
Wonderful Renee! I have greeted the first rays of the sun the same way here at 9000 feet in the Andes of South America where we have a mountain estate! outside of Bogota (I am in Colombia at the moment)! There will be no end of the earth-only a new earth -full of a humanity with hope and love! Karin
Much love to you Karin. I am sure wherever you are, it is a brighter place because you’re in it. Happy New Year!
and here’s to the New Year; making room for what’s to come, that’s what I’m doing 🙂
MJ
Always wise MJ! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year 2012 🙂 have fun
Zahir 🙂
May it be prosperous for us all!
Renee, this one is the best new year post i read today. You simply nailed it with your words, with your optimism and with your belief. My approach towards life is, “Rather than worrying about, what will happen tomorrow, it’s better to make today beautiful. ”
As the holidays over now, so now i am hoping to read more posts from you, you were not active in blogging from past few months. And all my best wishes for your first book, which i am very much sure that, it will get publish by end of this year.
Wish you a very happy new year. I wish you lots of happiness, success, peace in life. May you achieve all those things through your writing, which you deserve. 🙂
Arindam, you always make me feel appreciated. Happy New Year to you!
Perfect words, perfect sunrise. Let us begin anew…..thanks.
Happy New Year Bella!
Great tribute to life and inspiring words to live by. 🙂
Thanks so much!
I like the way you put this in perspective. You are absolutely right! I won’t be around much this week although I will have post up. We are in the middle of our move. I am so tired right now I could cry but we are half way there. Yeah!
I have thought about you so much. Be strong my friend. May 2012 bring you peace and prosperity.
Spot on! I’m sharing this one with my friends.
Thank you so much.
Beautiful. I’m with you in these thoughts and look forward to a year of letting many dreams come closer to fruition. I am also going to stop and breathe and enjoy the sunsets. (I’m a night owl and generally see many more sunsets than I do sunrises!) I hope your new year is a rich one!
For us both! Happy New Year.
Running late in wishing you a happy new year. I’m in something of a writing groove, but I do need to get all my medical plan information off the livingroom floor. Have been trying at least since last week!
Will we see you blog more now, or are you completely engrossed in the book?
Happy New Year Lee. Glad to hear you’ve been in a writing groove. What are you working on now? I am trying to find time for everything but it is sometimes hard. Now that the holidays are over, I hope my groove finds a new hitch as well!
Oh how I made tons of money in my business and closed it in 2007…went to college to get a Paralegal Degree: can’t find work and grad: 2009—-“No, we shouldn’t sell our homes and quit our jobs. But we should find joy in them. If you think you have a terrible job and a lackluster home – imagine losing them for a moment. It will make you a little more thankful for what you have.”
Ok I lost it all and now live in my sisters basement, hum If I did not write and blog at age 45 I’d be in a nut house! LOL…I hope you stop by my blog as I just did the postadaychallenge and now the Project 365 for 2012- my blog is Photo’s so it’s easy for me. Well, not really…but I am trying anyhow…if you only know how I am horrible with the camera (it’s just not my thing) so I am conqoring it…LOL..trying anyhow…Happy 2012! ♥ Jackie
Will definitely check out your site. Thanks for stopping by. Happy New Year.
I’m a couple of days late reading your post, but it’s a fabulous one! We sometimes need a reminder to be thankful for the people and things in our lives that bring us joy. Wishing you a joy-filled 2012.