Thursday, January 01, 2015

Happy New Year

I love the New Year. The freshness of what may be; the thought of infinite possibility; the idea that I am another year older. Okay, that last one I don't like so much, but since, as I tell my sister who thinks I never look any older, The Gays aren't allowed to age, I don't mind the extra year under the belt.

But I do look forward to doing more, and learning more, thinking more, reading more, loving more, laughing more. These aren't resolutions, as I don't make resolutions because when I do, my resolutions last about as long as it takes me to say resolution. These are promises and wishes, hopes and dreams.

So, I'll leave you all to have a good day, with a repost of a previous New Years Day thoughts:

The more things change :::blibbety blah blay bloo touch me::: the more they remain the same:  I am a believer in happiness. I believe that happiness is all we really get in life, and that everything else follows. 

Things don't make us happy, at least not for long. And you can't expect people to make you happy either; you either have it to begin with, and others add to it, or you don't.

If you don't believe that, just look around at all the sad, angry, lonely faces you pass on the street. Happiness is something you possess, that you give out, and get back. We're responsible for our own happiness, each and all of us; responsible to find it, to hold on to it; to nurture it and share it.

Without happiness in ourselves, for being ourselves, how can we expect to live fully and completely. We suffer loss every day; I've had my share and, sad to say, I know there's more to come, but I feel happy in the memories I have of those who've gone on ahead.

I know it's hard to be happy when times are hard. It's near impossible to think that things will get better, but they will; it might not be the better you were thinking it would be, but I have learned that it will get better. 

I have learned, from my Father the Teacher, never to stop learning and reading and speaking and, well, ranting; the more you learn, the more you grow, and understand, the more happiness you can accept. 

I have learned, from my Mother the Nurturer, to care for things, for people, for animals, for life; to make each day better for those around us, and to make it better for ourselves in the end. 

I have learned, from my Sister the Temper, to speak up; why sit quietly and let things happen to you? Stand up and demand the things you want, the happiness you want. Don't settle. 

I have learned, from my Brother the Father, to hold close to family; never let them go; whether it's the family you were born into, or the family you created out of necessity; hold on to them, and protect them, and love them. 

I have learned, from my Husband ... my Husband ... the Optimist, how to actually let go and be in love and damn the torpedoes; how to be open and honest and know that it won't hurt; how to love yourself, and everyone around you. 

So, I once again realize that I have learned to be happy; I've earned happiness. And I am responsible for it. It is, after all, all you really get in life.

Some day
When we are wiser
When the world's older
When we have learned
I pray
Someday we may yet live
To live and let live
Someday
Life will be fairer
Need will be rarer
Greed will not pay
God speed
This bright millennium
On its way
Let it come
Someday
Someday
Our fight will be won then
We'll stand in the sun then
That bright afternoon
Till then
On days when the sun is gone
We'll hang on
Wish upon the moon
Change will come
There are some days dark and bitter
Seems we haven't got a prayer
But a prayer for someday better
Is the one thing we all share
Someday
Life will be fairer
Need will be rarer
Greed will not pay
God speed
This bright millennium
Let it come
Wish upon the moon
Change will come
One day
Someday
Soon.

12 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, Bob - and all others in your circle.
    It's now 7.15 a.m. here. Didn't stay up for midnight myself but on this morning's news saw the scenes in Times Square with the incomparable Ol' Blue Eyes blasting out - "New York, New York"! Brilliant stuff!
    I'll return here later to read and ponder on all those New Year's thoughts you've posted.
    All the best to you and your followers everywhere.

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  2. How could I have been anything but awake at midnight, with mad people spending money to burn on fireworks, very noisy ones (I'm showing my age here). But, you are right Bob, we have to make our own happiness. I have a lot of things that bring me happiness, most of them I've not bought; I've been given or inherited them and they are the solid part of my history that triggers the ephemera of my memory, reminding me of days gone by. I could be bitter but I won't let myself become a miserable old hag, instead I'm me and it is me who holds the loving memories of those I've lost. Don't hate, find happiness where you can

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  3. something I always do on NYD - empty all the trash cans and take the bag to the dumpster. I guess (for me) it's symbolic of throwing away the old year and starting the new year clean.

    HNY to all at your house!

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  4. Happy New Year to you. Let's hope 2015 is a good one.

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  5. xoxoxoxoxo
    The possibilities - will this be the year Abby catches The Squirrel?

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  6. A wonderful repost, Bob. Thanks so much. I hadn't read it before. And the poem at the end; did you write it? If not, can you say who is the author?

    Wishing you, Carlos, and the furballs a shining 2015! :)

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  7. @Susan
    The poem is actually a song from the Disney movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

    You can hear it here!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUuc14sS0d4

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  8. Happy New Year!

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  9. Yes, we must make our own happiness. I too am happy just spending time with friends with some good food and drink!!!!! The simple things...... I always love this post! Happy New Year everybody!

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  10. I couldn't agree more, Bob! When you choose happiness, everything else follows. Happy new year!!

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  11. Hope the new year brings promise

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  12. Happy New Year. I hope 2015 will be happy, healthy, and prosperous for you.

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