Letting Go Of 2004

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And days of auld lang syne?

And days of auld lang syne, my dear,And days of auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,And days of auld lang syne?

-Robert Burns

The last year has been full: I cherish our friends old and new- online and in real life- and family too. I am so grateful. And Nature has been generous in sharing her beauty. The seasons have made their procession, and they continue, into the New Year.

I admit that I find release of 2004 difficult, even though I know that everything that has a beginning also has an end. I would LIKE to invest in gladness to be rid of the old year so I can welcome 2005, with all its’ potential.

Even though I know everything has its’ time, I still have some tough moments releasing this year and welcoming the next. All that has been witnessed over the last year, and the emotions about those events are tough:

In 2004 we witnessed continuing war that has no apparent end even though “Mission Accomplished” was declared. I lost a distant relative in the Iraq war, nearly a year ago. We are related through my grandmother. His name was Seth, and his mom and dad loved him as much as any parents love their children. When Seth died, I received the information through the family “grapevine”. His death hit me hard because my own son is the same age. I did not even know that Seth existed till he was gone since our connection is distant through my grandmother and his great-grandfather.

You can read about Seth here:
http://www.retrogrouch.net/MT/archives/000369.html

Yes, Seth and all soldiers involved, signed on for their duty, but they signed on trusting their honor would be upheld by care taken in making sure there was ACTUAL cause to make war. OK…’nuff said about that.

Then there is the so-called “election”. What is left to say about that? There are plans under way for protest: http://www.nogw.com/protests.html

In addition to the tragedies of war and of voter disenfranchisement, we have a HUGE tragedy in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes that triggered tsunamis, leaving more than a hundred thousand people dead, and vulnerable to disease.

Yet, even with the scientific evidence, do we understand that the planet is the only one we’ve got; that global warming does not create only warming of climate, but causes extremes of all kinds? Can we ever accept that humanity in its’ curiosity and brilliant creativity, took discovery and invention and resources and contributed directly to the cause of the extremes we see unfolding? A wise woman I know, has adapted “All for One and One for All”, to express the truth of interdependence of all Life with one another and with this beautiful, spinning blue-green jewel planet, upon whose very flesh we are sustained.

There are ways to contribute to helping survivors to get assistance as basic as clean water, food and shelter, and every bit helps and makes a difference for someone. From the Red Cross website:

“You can help those affected by this crisis and countless others around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance, and other support to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

Also Doctors Without Borders is helping, so check them out and see if there’s a way to help ‘em out: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Please help…every little bit helps.

Perhaps giving and helping are the best actions to take, in order to let go of 2004, the pains and the joys alike, so that we can move on to 2005 ready to meet the challenges ahead- by giving of our resources when and where they can do the most good today, whether that is in our own neighborhood or further out into the world-at-large. One for ALL and All for ONE! Maybe our best help for embodying the change we wish to see in this world, is hanging at the ends of our own arms…our own two hands, reaching out, touching, helping, extending.

Now there have been joys…yes, giving and receiving are both joyous. The holidays have been a great opportunity for experiencing both. The baking, the cooking, and the gathering together, gifting, sharing have all been wonderful so the theme continues…giving is the way home.

There is a time for everything and so at this time, I share these words from another wise woman, from whom I have learned a lot- from her writing, titled “Moving On”, Alloday says:

“…We are not meant to settle in,
content with our accumulations.
We are meant to keep moving on…
Thinking, doing, loving, helping,
healing, inspiring, sharing,
dreaming, relaxing, learning,
singing, dancing, creating…
for thus do we progress.”

Taking this all to heart, I wish you real ease as you release 2004, to grasp gently and with strength the new year, ripe and full of potential and opportunity to act from the heart of “All for One and One for All”, extend a hand, progress and find the way… to move on.

Happy New Year!