A new year is a time of new beginnings, of fresh starts, of
hopefulness.
With the tragedy of Newtown and the fiscal cliff so much on
our minds, we need to find ways to remain optimistic and to make things better,
both in our own lives, and where we can, in the lives of others.
Many
individuals, touched by the deaths in Newtown, have given money to the affected
families. Others have decided to do 26 good deeds for others, one for each
person killed. My mother told me that although it was good to cultivate the
traits of patience and tolerance, there was something called “divine
discontent,” and one should and must become impatient and angry over certain
injustices.
I admire and applaud people like Candy Lightner who started
MADD after her daughter was killed by a drunken driver.
I hope many of us who feel strongly about limiting certain types of guns in
this country will continue to fight until that is accomplished as well. Each and
every one of us has something to give to the world. As a new year approaches, it
is a good time to re-evaluate what you can contribute. But before you can help
others, you need to feel good about yourself.
All experiences are
translated into happiness or suffering within our minds. You cannot be happy and
sad at the same time. I recently read an interesting study about the leading
regrets of people who were dying.
Many said they wished that they had let
themselves be happier. They didn’t realize that time is a precious resource and
that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits.
Fear of change or criticism of others prevented them from doing what they really
wanted to do.
Many also said they realized too late in life that the best
investment was in others, in friends and family, not things. When lives were
almost over, many looked back and saw too many dreams had remained
unfulfilled.
Now that we have lived through the dreaded-by-some end of
the world date of Dec. 21, we can face 2013 with confidence and the
determination to make this world a little better place because we are part of
it.
We can do that best by living our dreams. You are never too old to
start living that dream, unless you don’t start now.
Contact Jean Cherni, certified senior adviser for Senior Living Solutions and Pearce Plus, a helpful, full-service program for seniors contemplating a move, at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds at 101 Hotchkiss Grove, Branford 06405.
