Happy New Year, dear Readers!
Hope you are all having a good holiday season with family and friends. A new year - what will it bring? It is up to each and every one of us to make it the best year ever in so many ways. Our 150/50 anniversary year of celebration has ended and we’ll venture forth cherishing fond memories of a fun, busy time.
Last year I came across an interesting little book titled Meditations For Women Who Do Too Much by Anne Wilson Schaef. The author recognizes that women who do too much would not take much time for meditation (and probably usually take none!) so she tried to make each meditation brief. Even so, I did not get the entire book read and I’m going to try again! There is a meditation for each day of the year. Each day begins with a timely quote which is followed by a meditation and ends with a few words for the day. Shaef writes “Most women would not define themselves as workaholics but there are many of us who do too much, keep too busy, spend all our time taking care of others, and, in general do not take care of ourselves. Many of us have crossed over the line to compulsive, addictive self-defeating behaviour and need to make major changes in our lives.” Her Jan. 1 entry is titled Rushing/ Frenzy - “We women who do too much find the ending of an old year and the beginning of a new year to be a difficult time. There is always the temptation to try to “tidy up’ all the loose ends as the old year closes. We fall into that trap of believing that it is possible to get our entire life ‘caught up’ before starting a new year, and we are determined to do it. Also, there is the temptation to set up an elaborate set of resolutions for the coming year so that we can, at last, GET IT RIGHT. As workaholics, we tend to be very hard on ourselves: nothing less than perfection is enough. Hopefully, on this first day of the year, we will be able to remember that we are perfect just as we are. Hope for the willingness to live this year in a way that will be gentle to yourself...one day at a time.” So.........my New Year’s resolution is to read the book through, gain inspiration and try never to confuse motion with action.
Along the same lines, Lisa M. Petsche tells us that “People who care for loved ones with frail health typically have many responsibilities. There don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, let alone get time with other important people in their life and tend to their own needs. It’s not surprising that the gift caregivers value most is the gift of time; time to attend to their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs to help keep the inherent stress of caregiving manageable. If you’re a caregiver, consider personal time a need, not a luxury, and resolve to make it an ongoing gift to yourself. Don’t wait for the new year to get started!
Clinton Seniors Association members will enjoy a couple of quiet months before the next important event. The Daffodil Tea is March 6 and by then we’ll all have had enough of cold and snow and be looking forward to Spring and green grass and new growth.
Meanwhile, Cards and Games go on at the Seniors Centre 217 Smith Avenue, every Monday at 1 pm. The more people who attend, the greater variety of games can be played. Plan to attend for coffee and a couple of hours of fellowship.
The next regular General meeting will be held Jan. 16 following lunch at the Seniors Centre. New members are welcome! Annual membership fees are $15.
Happy Birthday to Aldea Chastenay on Jan. 5.
You be the judge! Hervey Allan said, “The only time you really live fully is from 30 to 60. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits.”
Zee Chevalier