It is Chinese New Year. Throughout Asia people will celebrate and welcome in the year of the Rabbit. It is a time for dreams of success and happiness.
For millions of Chinese people throughout the world Chinese New Year brings a new start. It is a celebration of the year that has past and the New Year to come.
In Vietnam people are already celebrating the year of the Cat. In the Western world it is not so long since we celebrated New Year or Hogmanay.
However for many of us in the western world the New Year’s resolutions, plans and dreams have long since been forgotten. The year has become like any other and for some they are already saying “perhaps next year will be better”.
Yet we don’t need a New Year to improve our life in some way. We can make small changes in our attitude or thinking. We can make small changes in the way we treat ourselves and deal with others.
We don’t need a New Year to start being kinder to ourselves and to appreciate ourselves more. We don’t need a New Year to start loving ourselves. We don’t need a New Year before we can be happy.
The “why” of this site is to inspire people to take stock of their lives and develop new tactics for playing the game of life.
In most team games there is a “half time” or “time out”. During those periods the team coach will speak to the players so that they can reassess and adjust how they are playing the game. The players have the opportunity to come into the second half with new ideas and raised spirits. It is possible to build on a disappointing first half and turn it into a glorious second half.
For me life is very much like a game but you must choose the rules or values by which you play the game or lead your life.
Yes, we make mistakes. Yet those mistakes don’t need to colour the rest of our year or the rest of our lives.
Yes, sometimes very bad things happen. Yet we can grieve for what we have lost and we can with courage and some effort rebuild our lives.
So please think back to your thoughts, dreams and goals for 2011 and reconnect with them. Why was finding a new job, building confidence, getting a work life balance, getting fit or (enter your own goal) so important?
What would it give you and how would you feel when you achieved it? You would feel good wouldn’t you?
So go on … take some time to reassess and then get out there and have a great second half.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful post Marion. I love your words about the Chinese New Year and the gorgeous illustration. As you say we don’t need a New Year to feel a bit special, the truth is we are already beautiful and we can love that beautiful truth of our own being each and any moment.
Thank you Christopher. You expressed that sentiment beautifully. We all have something special about us – we all have something to give – the lucky ones discover it and appreciate it.
My daughter gave me a fridge magnet which said – You are never to old to be what you might have been
I was inspired by that gift and I have gone on to learn that you have a chance each day to find out exactly what that could be.
Marion,
Loved how you tied it to being like “half time” in a football game. Who says we only need to back up and re-group at New Years, why not anytime we feel we have lost site of our goals and aspirations.
Great posting, it really made me think!
Once again, thanks for sharing your work!
Michael
CCO OutMaturity.com
Hi Marion, I thought I would pop over to see your blog after you left a comment and what a treat. Really like it x
Marion,
I enjoyed this so much and it made me think again, even reading it a second time that I had to post to you and say “thanks” for sharing!
Michael
CCO OutMaturity
Hi Marion,
I like the analogy of the second half of the game with a second part in life. We all know that many times, with a good planning and renewed resolution, many teams have turned around the score in the second part of the game, so why can’t we do the same in our lives?
As you said, we all had many bad moments and problems, but if we take the present moment as the “half time” and use it wisely, we can see a different life and ourselves in our own proposed second part.
Raul
The year of the Iron Rabbit: it will remove creases from your clothes, but leave little pellets of poo everywhere!
Love the article here. yes, my personal goal was to lose 15lbs by June, ( not too tough a goal). I succeeded, and lost 18.5lbs! Made me feel great! This year has been fruitful for our family so far, hope it has for you too!
Great post Marion but honestly, I can’t wait for 2011 to end. I’ve divorced and lost a job. Let’s hope the rest of the year is better for me
Someone I work with visits your site quite often and recommended it to me to read as well. The writing style is superior and the content is interesting. Thanks for the insight you provide the readers!
I really enjoyed this post Marion. My “second half” really began at age 60 when I became aware of a better way of thinking. You are so right, never give up on your goals or dreams, no matter what your age. Thanks.
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