Have a Happy New Year? Do you think most people, myself included, take the time to think about what they’re saying? How many times do you hear it or say it each holiday season? “Have a happy new year. What exactly do we mean? Does it mean “I hope you laugh a lot in 2018”? Or “I hope you find what you’re looking for to make you happy this coming year”? Or does it mean “you are not happy, so I hope you get happy”? And what about the next new year? Does happy starts all over again in 2019 because your happy meter ran down? Some people may think it means “hope you find that special person that will make you happy.” Or is the message “I hope you make a lot of money, your business is great, and your family life is terrific.”

What do you think?

I’m probing my mind to understand what I mean when I say “Have a Happy New Year.” Truly, I never thought about it until now, and think the phrase calls for an intention which goes out to all I meet and greet. The intention should be different since we are all at different stages in the puzzle of life. It sounds simple, but I find crafting this intention to be a challenge. If we were talking hugs—real hugs, which communicate love, connection, empathy or compassion without a word being spoken—the meaning would be clear. A sincere hug is almost the perfect communicator.

However, for this intention my imperfect words will have to do.

So here goes! Happy New Year! I wish you the intention of peace. I wish you an open heart to grow. I wish you meaningful friendships and love. I wish you the strength you may need. I wish you courage to be you, to love you, to cherish you. I wish you enough faith, hope, love and fulfillment to carry you all the days of your life. I wish you good health. I wish you the ability to let go, to release resentments, to seek forgiveness, and to forgive. I wish you fun—to be a kid and be in the moment with joy and respect for others and yourself.

My wish for me is to become a better person, to continue to seek the good, to enjoy every moment of the gift of life, to cherish family, loved ones, and friends.

For the world, each time I utter the phrase “Happy New Year” I will think of world peace, of kindness, understanding, patience, uniting rather than dividing.  

From all of us at Natural Awakenings…Happy New Year!

Joe Dunne