In an hour's time here in South Africa, New Year's Day will come to an end. Thanks to social media, we are fully aware of what a new year represents - beginnings, opportunities, chances, prospects. Although technically it is just another cycle of the twenty four hour clock, the beginning of a new year allows us a few moments in time to ponder the what ifs. We find ourselves making concrete plans as well as wish lists, and for fleeting seconds we have hope that all will be achieved in this calender year. But why can't it? What puts the brakes on these dreams? Quite simply..... fear!
For the first time in many years I didn't spend the last three months saying 'I wish this year was over'. This morning I heard people say that nothing can be as bad as last year. Well, actually it can! Nothing in life is certain except that each year we are closer to our end. To wish away the year in the hope that next year will be better is just a faster route to the end. So much changed in my life last year that I could not have foreseen the year before. Some for the better and a lot for the worse. But the choices I made due to these changes were my fork in the road - neither route was going to be easy, so I chose the one that I hoped would have the least regret. I gave myself two years to heal (again setting calender goals), and today marks the halfway mark. Do I feel like I have progressed? Not really. Do I think I have regressed? Definitely not! Do I have a clearer view of what I want? Absolutely! Do I know how to get there? Not a clue. But I do know that somehow I am being led on a particular path for as yet unknown reasons. Half the fun is the anticipation of what lies ahead. The fear does creep in to discourage me every so often, but the alternative is more scary, so I soldier on.
I used to be a homebody; quite content with being a corporate business woman by day and domestic goddess after hours. Instead of being a traveller I preferred to be the hostess. My super powers ranged from wedding dress designer to church organist. Now my talents include packing six months of clothing for South America and Alaska into just two suitcases! Tomorrow I leave for Miami, somewhere I have longed to visit. I will play out 2017 over a few continents with more than a few goals to achieve. Somewhere in my travels my fear will be drowned out by my desire to succeed, and my future path will make itself know. I will miss my daughter terribly, but I am no good to her if I am not good to myself.
Hello 2017, let's be friends!
The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us .
- Alexandra Elle
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