There’s something very special about New Year’s Eve. Perhaps I feel this way because I’ve always been surrounded by good company on this, the last day of the year.
In high school one of my New Year’s Eves was spent in the company of good friends, one of whom had just had a neck halo removed after a very serious accident. I remember how incredibly thankful we were that we were able to spend that night together, reflecting on the sadness of the past years’ events, but looking forward to the new year with great anticipation.
To ring in 2005, we celebrated in New York City – complete with sparkly ‘2005’ glasses, and confetti and hugging strangers in the streets.
My first year in Cape Breton, I celebrated by sitting on a couch with someone who was to become a very close friend, sipping wine, watching the lights on the Christmas tree, and then being delighted by a surprise performance of “Under the Sea” by a young man in drag.
The last two years, I’ve spent cozied up in the Power-Donham livingroom, surrounded by a variety of faces, all of whom I have been incredibly blessed to share life with.
In addition to the good company, New Year’s Eve allows for some deliberate reflection on the past year, something that I sometimes shy away from in anticipation for ‘what is to come’.
Last year, I believe I reflected a great deal on ‘the darkness and the light’. However, this year that idea became so much clearer.
There was beautiful joy and beautiful sorrow – for which I give thanks.
Indeed, there was an incomparable richness in what was lived throughout this year, and as always, I have learned so much.
Some things that I have learned…
…there are fights that are not yours to fight.
…community is not the best place for everyone
…sometimes we must choose solitude, and experience some degree of loneliness on the journey to finding wholeness within ourselves
…true friendship crosses borders
… ‘community living’ comes in all shapes and sizes
…there is great beauty in fragility
… ‘signs’ are all around us, we must trust in our ability to read them, and then be willing to take chances and see them through
… we are each a part of the body, pieces of the puzzle, ribbons in the tapestry
…the ‘great tapestry’ cannot be understood from underneath
…life holds regrets. They must be acknowledged, honoured, but not dwelled upon
…loss and its accompanying sorrow do not go away; they linger in dark corners, sometimes dim for extended periods of time, but they remain.
…sometimes, setbacks, frustrations and tears are a part of what you were looking for
In Bangalore, we celebrated with prayer, a bonfire and a special meal (delicious paneer).
The prayer focused on:“O thou who has given us so much, grant one thing more – a grateful heart”
We honoured the ‘colours’ of the past year, and added them to puzzle pieces for our prayer centerpiece. We remembered events of the past year – gave thanks for life and love.
Throughout the evening I could hear lively voices, singing bhajans and rejoicing at the temple and at the dance school next door. And later into the night, there has been a barrage of fireworks, followed by laughter and more singing.
We’ll get to celebrate several more new years as each state has its own depending on the harvest.
And so, forward into this New Year!
With hopes of joy and peace, many days filled with side-splitting laughter, good conversations, wise revelations, new friends, old friends, true loves, wild adventures, the occasional glass of wine, tears of joy and sorrow, warm hugs, sun in which to bask, rain in which to dance, and a true passion for life.
Love from India
Haley
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