As January rolls in

Hi there,

First of January. There is something childishly optimistic about a 'New Year'. The fact is, a 'new start' to whatever you want to do, can be done on any day of the year. Yet there is some joy, some anticipation, some excitement as December 31st passes and January begins.

The newspapers carry so many adverts about new year bashes. It is almost as if there is a compulsion to 'do something' for December 31st. Almost anyone I meet seems to ask me the same thing "So--what are you doing for new years?"
Somehow, the noisy pubs and clubs and bashes and dos and loud parties (commercially organised with a Bollywood diva or a celebrity singing and dancing) with a room full of drunken strangers isn't my idea of welcoming the new year. We usually stay at home for new years. Sometimes we have good friends over, sometimes it is just the four of us.  (Satish and I and our two children)

If it is just the four of us, we usually have a 'party' on the terrace. We play some nice 'fun games' (I think  up some really unique games and usually my son and I are in a team. We play against my husband and daughter in the other team), and we stay up till midnight. When the clock strikes twelve, I light my hanging lamp. (see photos. This is my prayer space)

We then pray for our loved ones, our families, our closest friends and for all those people who matter to us. We spend a few moments in serene silence, wishing for the very best but most importanly offering gratitude to the Universe for all that we have.

We are so fortunate (and so are you if you are reading this) to have a home, to have food on the table, to have good health, to have people who care about us and to have so much love.

We then hug each other,wish each other and go to bed.
We have had this ritual on for many years now.

So when people ask me in surprise "What? You aren't going to party?" I find it hard to explain to them, the joy in silence, serenity and peace and most importantly the joy in being with your closest ones(I cannot even imagine leaving my children at home and going for some party  to some hotel on new year!) to welcome a new year. I just smile and say "No, we will be at home only."
 

This year though, we would be spending it with immediate family.


However you choose to welcome the new year, whether you are partying (with or without a bollywood diva--hey--to each their own) or whether you are at home, whether you are alone or with friends, here is hoping that you take time to contemplate on where your life is going. Steer it gently, nudge it, prod it and then just leave it alone after you have given it your best shot.


It will all turn out perfect in the end, just the way it was meant to be.

Cheers and the very best wishes for achieving all your goals !

Love and warmth
Preeti