New Year

From the Dhammapada: Better to live in virtue and wisdom for one day than to live a hundred years with an evil and undisciplined mind. Better to live in goodness and wisdom for one day than to lead an ignorant and undisciplined life for a hundred years. Better to live in strength and wisdom for one day than to lead a weak and idle life for a hundred years. Better to live in freedom and wisdom for one day than to lead a conditioned life of bondage for a hundred years.
In most cultures there is a celebration that marks the coming of a new era. These celebrations may not all happen on the same date on our calendars but they are all the same in their intent. This New Year is an appropriate time to start fresh. Yes, I know the pundits (pundits are who is referred to when people say, "THEY said") tell us that New Years resolutions are doomed to fail. If that's the case then wait until January 2nd or 3rd if you must. Spend some time over the next few days and take an inventory of your life. It probably won't take more than a few minutes to get a short list of things that you would like to improve. Are they connected in some way? Is there a root cause? Is it based in fear?
Read the lines from the Dhammapada again. Okay, if you are freaked out by something called the Dhammapada, then pretend the words are coming as lines of your favorite song. Either way, give them some thought.
If you find that you are unhappy much of the time, resolve to discover the reason why and work to fix it. If you think you know the reason why and are not moving to fix it...reflect on your reasons for staying with your unhappiness. If you choose to not reflect at all...please check to see if you are accepting the conditioned life of bondage.
It seems that very little is learned if we continue to move through life on auto-pilot. Pull over occassionaly and walk around the vehicle...kick the tires...look under the hood...see if you want to continue traveling in the same manner. Maybe a new direction or new ride is in order...after all it's a New Year.