Starting the New Year with Gratitude

by Diana Raab

And here we are at the start of a new year! The adage that time goes faster as we age is so very true, and for me, it’s more real with each passing year. The idea of making New Year’s resolutions seems old-fashioned; however, there are a few things I like contemplating at the beginning of each year. I like to envisage what I’ve learned the previous year and what my intentions are for the year to come.

This past year, I learned the importance of having gratitude when the flow is right in our life and everything is going well. For me, everything was flowing smoothly until mid-year, when my husband developed severe and nearly fatal complications from COVID-19 that resulted in two emergency surgeries (thankfully he’s now nearly recovered); my 93-year-old mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer; and my 17-year old Maltese Poodle passed away in my arms one morning in bed. The good news is that we have a new grandson, Cohen Ananda, born just before Christmas. This makes six precious little beings. My gratitude is for the love they’ve all brought into our family and into the universe.

I also have gratitude for my friends and family who were emotionally supportive during the challenging moments of 2022. Thankfully, I was inspired to write a lot of poems–many of which got published. I feel blessed over this. And, of course, I’m grateful for my poetry collection, An Imaginary Affair:Poems Whispered to Neruda, which was published in July.

I have done much grieving in 2022, and many of us deal with grief specifically over the winter holidays when we miss loved ones who have passed on. We know grief can strike any time, but it’s especially strong on important holidays. If you’re experiencing loss and grief or have experienced loss and grief in the past, please check out my article, “Dealing With Grief During the Holidays,” in Psychology Today. The tips are helpful all year round.

On another note, check out my article in Psychology Today “5 Ways to Reflect on 2022,” which offers some talking and writing points to look back on the year.

In terms of setting intentions for 2023, one way to begin is by writing in your journal. Don’t forget to date your entries. You may want to begin by discussing your passions, both past and present. Sometimes it’s useful to tap into some past passions which brought you joy. In any case, writing is a good place to start considering your passions and intentions for the upcoming year. For some more ideas, check out my article “Writing and Finding Your Life Passion,” in Sixty and Me.

 Wishing you a happy, healthy, and productive 2023 !!