Recipe for a Happy New Year.

(Anonymous)

“Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor, and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past – have them fresh and clean as when they came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts.  Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many people spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and spoil the flavor of the rest), hope loyalty, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing – don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.  Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.”

2020 will draw to a close late Thursday evening and this recipe for a Happy New Year is a creative way to shape the season ahead.  Although the 12 months are the same each New Year, it’s the process of cleansing them from the past that gives the new season its freshness.  The second step; dividing the year into equal parts, is a cue to live in the day, not worried about the future.  Lastly, the importance of seeing what each day can be with the well selected ingredients added.  Special attention is paid to the ingredient of work which brings meaning to rest and rest which is a required ingredient. 

Enjoy selecting your own special ingredients and may your New Year be a fresh beginning filled with faith, hope, and love.

– Sarah McEvoy, CPE Intern