A new year is meant to invoke a sense of wonder, a hopeful new beginning. It marks the time when we open a new journal, crack the binding, and begin the next chapter of our life, with countless new ways to make our mark in this world.
Several times this past week I sat at the keyboard with the intent of writing a heartfelt post on closing the door on 2016 and stepping into a brand new year. When that didn’t work, I picked up pen and paper. Cursive writing, the process of creating curves and lines that dance across the page, often allows my creative juices to flow. Although it did help to move the process forward, it didn’t dispel the apprehension I feel at crossing into a year with so many unknowns. But I know that times like these demand that we reach inside and find that kernel of hope that resides in each of us. As Desmond Tutu once said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness”. So, with a hopeful heart, here are my three wishes for the upcoming year for each of you:
1) Be the healthiest version of yourself, both in mind and body.
Get outside in nature, which is transformative for both mind and body. Meditate; reduce the stress in your life where possible; release your mind of negative thoughts and your personal space of unimportant “stuff”. Plan some exciting adventures that will create instant, incredible memories.
2) Use your voice.
Stay true to your convictions. During troubling times it is easier to conform, to echo someone else’s words, not rock the boat. My wish is that you find your true voice and use it respectfully to stand up for your beliefs and remain steadfast about causes that speak to you. Shine your light brightly, lighting the path for others.
“I raise up my voice, not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard.” ~ Malala
3) Hold a space of gratitude.
As I take the time to reflect back on the year, I am most grateful for the love of family and friends. As we move into a new year, I hope to extend that gratitude to those around me with whom I don’t agree, as I know they will challenge me to look inside and analyze my own beliefs. I’m still working on this one.
Let’s all move into this new year being true to ourselves, not living someone else’s version of the life we should live.
May you all have the gift of abundance, excellent health, and much love in 2017!
Paint Your Landscape 
Thank you, LuAnn
My pleasure Julianne!
Cheers LuAnn, and here’s to a great year ahead as well!
A healthy, happy new year for all of us!
Lovely thoughts to start a new year … Thank you & happy blogging.
Thanks for visiting! Happy New Year!
These are all things we have the ability to nurture and improve LuAnn and hopefully they’ll make us feel a little less apprehensive about the future. And yet … a part of me wants to jump into the Wayback Machine! Going forward with a smile pasted on my face and wishing you much happiness too in 2017! Anita
I too am working on that smile and hopefully soon it will even look natural. 😉
This is absolutely beautiful LuAnn and your words speak so much to how I feel now and how I too want to live my life. We are likeminded souls! I almost want to print it out and keep it near my computer to remind me : nature, hope, meditate and use my voice. Lovely. I feel so apprehensive too and like you getting outside and also using my voice are the things that bring me peace. Thank you! Happy New Year!
I feel honored to be put into the category of “like-minded souls” with you Nicole. I’m not sure what else can be done now except use our voice for good.
Your eloquent words reflect my own thoughts about this coming year. May gratitude and a positive attitude guide us through 2017 and beyond.
Wishing you and Terry a joyful and healthy year ahead.
The same to you and Hans. Hope our paths cross one day.
So good to read your latest positive blog, LuAnn. I started to say some relevant things here, but decided to say them in a private message to the two of you on Facebook. I just want to keep everything positive in this message, just as you have done in today’s story. Hope your New Years Day is bright, clear and positive.
Loved your FB comment to me Roger. We will persevere if we stay positive, use our voice for good, and live with a sense of gratitude for what is good in our lives.
Such beautiful, positive thoughts as we stand on the threshold of the New Year, LuAnn. Eric and I wish you and Terry all the best! Here’s hoping we’ll catch up with you somewhere this year.
Thanks Laurel! We have had the two of you on our minds a lot lately. Praying that Eric’s recovery is moving along nicely and you are well. I will be giving you a call in the next few days. Lots of love to you both.
BTW, do you recognize where my header shot was taken? Since you have been on my mind lately, I thought I would use the photo I took off Kat’s deck the night the six of us had dinner there.
Heartfelt and well said LuAnn. The New Year is a good focal point for reflection, both past and future. Given the incredible proliferation of media that we encounter on a day by day, minute by minute basis, it becomes harder and harder to stay true to oneself. Here’s hoping that we all pull it off in 2017. ~James
That will be a major accomplishment if we can.
Thank you so much LuAnn for these three wishes. What more could anyone want – physical and mental health, authenticity, and gratitude. I wish the same for you and your loved ones. Peace and love and joy for all. Numerologically 2017 is a 1 year – time for new beginnings!
Alison
Thanks for your comment Alison. Let’s hope the new beginnings are positive ones. 🙂
These are such genuine wishes LuAnn. Thank you for bringing them to mind. Sending hugs and my very best today and through 2017. Xo
I am trying to remain hopeful as we move into this unknown year, but then again, they are all unknown, aren’t they?
Perfect wishes which completely resonate with me! So well written. Thank you. I always say that if I am healthy and have love…the rest is just “noise”. Nature is the number one recharger for me!
Best for 2017 for you!!
Peta
Nature does it for me too! Happy New Year!
Happy new year to you and Terry. I’ve enjoyed your European posts Karen Friedel
Thank you. Happy New Year to the two of you.
Love all three wishes and totally agree! Happy New Year to you!
Nina
Thanks Nina! We hope you and Paul have a fabulous 2017!
You write a post better than anyone else. What a beautiful message. Wishing you two a very blessed and Happy New Year.
Ahh, you are so sweet Marsha. I pray you and your family are blessed with a healthy year, filled with many memory-making moments.
Thank you.
Beautiful post!!! Happy New Year!!!!
Thanks Rexlin!
Happy New Year! I am with you on these three, speaking up is a challenge but always worth it, I quite like an awkward silence to though sometimes, especially in lifts. I am already there with the health running a couple of miles a day as well as the grey matter with a bunch of books. I feel this could be a good year my friend and I never usually make such bold statements!
I hope you are right Ste J! I seldom speaks in lifts either, but then again, I am not much of one to make small talk. Love hearing that you are focusing on your health. That makes me smile. 😀
Really nice travel blog !
I wish you a lot of trips in 2017 year !
I leave you my post about celebration of New Year’s Eve in Madrid
https://traveltomeetyourheart.wordpress.com/2017/01/07/12-grapes-new-years-eve-spain-madrid/
Thank you so much. I look forward to following along with your travels.
Thank you a lot – I hope you will enjoy 🙂 I’ve just returned from trip to Italy 😀 I am going to publish about places I’ve viisted. I just wrote one of the post 🙂
Beautiful contemplations to begin another year … Thank you and glad blogging….