Just read that there's a holiday, in Scotland, I think, called Hogmanay. And it's today, last day of the year. The purpose of Hogmanay is to clean up after the old year, literally to clean house. Well, I've done a few things: unpacked my bags, anyway.
I do like the idea, and am somewhat inspired to bring new order. But it will take me a lot more than a day.
I expect it takes more than a day for everybody. Perhaps the purpose of the special day is to get us all inspired to start once again.
Happy Fresh Start to you.
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ANXIOUS WRITER ATTEMPTS ADVENTUROUS LIFE
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I’m a writer who dodged being a minister; I saw that my dharma, my calling, was instead to write about body and spirit, to explore in fiction my metaphysical questions. I’ve spent the past 35+ years as a freelancer, with 2 novels, 2 nonfiction books, magazine and newspaper articles from 25+ countries, a few seasons as a TV reporter, copy for ad agencies, a winter in India, and my manuscript and career consulting services for writers.
It’s not because I’m naturally lion-hearted that I’ve chosen the topic of bold living and bold writing. It’s because I aspire to living and writing with courage. I wrestle with these matters; I even have a touch of an anxiety disorder, specifically obsessive-compulsive disorder. You probably know the saying: we teach what we need to learn.
I post here about daily fears and triumphs, about writing and, if I ever get my courage up, about mysticism, the ultimate brazen act: direct experience of God. I hope you’ll leap into the wide-ranging conversation here and come back often. I hope you’ll find the talk here encouraging for your own adventures.
It’s not because I’m naturally lion-hearted that I’ve chosen the topic of bold living and bold writing. It’s because I aspire to living and writing with courage. I wrestle with these matters; I even have a touch of an anxiety disorder, specifically obsessive-compulsive disorder. You probably know the saying: we teach what we need to learn.
I post here about daily fears and triumphs, about writing and, if I ever get my courage up, about mysticism, the ultimate brazen act: direct experience of God. I hope you’ll leap into the wide-ranging conversation here and come back often. I hope you’ll find the talk here encouraging for your own adventures.
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3 comments:
What a perfect post for the end of MY year. We're moving to another home and all week we've been purging, dumping, cleaning, saying NO, saying YES and the MAYBEs (if I have anything to say about it) will become NOs.
Hallelujah Hogmanay!
Thanks for gracing my year, Peggy. It's been a delight.
Peggy,
Being Jewish means that I have two new years to contemplate every year. One that ends and begins, sometime in late Sept. early Oct.(depending on the lunar calendar), and then this secular new year. I prefer Rosh Hoshanna(The Jewish New Year), as it is much more introspective and thoughtful. We spend time in synagogue praying and focusing on how we can live a better life in the new year. We spend time making amends, asking forgiveness, and letting go of unnecessary baggage. Personally, I prefer it to the obnoxious partying that the secular new year tends to promote.
I like the idea of this Scottish holiday, as well. Cleaning house, so to speak, is a very good way to begin the new year. You are definitely correct in saying that it takes a lot more than a day. Change and transformation take time. The new year gives us each a chance to evolve into a better, more improved version of ourself.
Happy Fresh Start, to you as well!
Thanks, Lisa and Debbie.
And happy moving to you, Lisa. What a huge undertaking. I can tell simply from knowing you online that you fall into the I-Don't-Know-How-She-Does-It category.
You have a point about Rosh Hoshanna being more thoughtful, Debbie. I'll pay attention to that more next year. I really like the way you describe it.
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