What’s the Big Deal About New Years?
For several weeks I have had many people wish me a Happy New Year. Of course I reply, “Happy New Year to you”. However, I kept wondering what is the big deal about New Years. It is just another day on the calendar. 1/1/11 yes that’s cool. New Years’ resolutions, new beginnings, I get all that, and still???
As I do with many deep philosophical questions, I let this one float in the periphery of my mind. Then the other day, one of my clients was departing from a session. She is a lovely and wise older woman. At the office door she turned wrapped my hand in both of hers’ look into my eyes and said, “I really hope you have a wonderful New Year”. I smiled at her and said, ”I really hope you do too”. As I watched her walk slowly down the hall, her sweet words echoed in my head. “I really hope…
It struck me like a bolt of lightening. HOPE, that’s it, that is what New Years is about. Hope that it will be a good year or a better year. Hope that we will be happy and healthy. Hope that our loved ones will be safe and warm. Hope that the world and we can find peace.
This amazing human emotion of hope is what keeps us moving through our lives. This spark or flame of optimism gets us out of bed in the morning. Hope motivates us to improve our lives and ourselves. Hope is potential.
I have seen people without hope and I have felt hopeless. The absence of hope is perhaps the most depressing, lonely, and fearful state a human can experience. Our vitality and spirit drain away. The reasons for living feel distant and out of focus.
What inspires and fuels hope? I guess this is different for everyone. It could be a look of love and vulnerability in our child’s eyes, the touch of a loved one, or kind words from a friend. Witnessing an act of kindness, listening to an inspiring talk, watching Bill Gates give millions of dollars worth of vaccine to an impoverished people, these can all ignite a sense of hope.
One of the most touching and gratifying moments I have experienced in my work was with a young woman. She had been through a lifetime of emotional distress and physical pain. We had a particularly powerful session where she was able to release some of her pain. She got off the table walked around and it was clear she was somehow lighter. She said, “Our work here gives me hope”. As tears welled in my eyes, through a lump in my throat, I told her that it gives me hope too.
Where do you find hope?
This is a great article Joseph. We do look to the new year with hope that things are better. I find hope in my clients that are looking to have a healthier more enjoyable new year. New Year, New body is the mantra that echoes through our halls.
I find hope in the clients that struggle mightily. I wonder how they can ever come back, but somehow they do. They come back to the gym excited, with lots of energy and belief that their consistency will pay off.