The year that was and the year that is
Wow. What a year that was. I think the best way to describe 2016 is eventful. From hot politics to even hotter topics, the loss of great minds and creatives, tragic current events… It’s been a tough and divisive year. I watched, admittedly passively, on social media how people tore each other apart, un-moving, un-forgiving, without even trying to understand the other side. Respect and tolerance were tossed out the window and negativity flooded the feeds. Things got pretty ugly and this feeling of desperation and fear planted their gnarly roots and grew like ruthless weeds, choking the tree of life.
It’s been a year of thoroughly mixed emotions for me, because on a personal level, it’s been rather incredible. We were blessed with the arrival of Maximilian and have experienced this amazing feeling of expanding hearts and boundless love. Just when I thought it was possible to love someone more, Sebastian has proven to be a wonderful big brother and whenever I see how they are together my love for them grows exponentially.
Babies and children remind us to never stop fighting for the good in the world, to be the examples we want the future generations to follow and to draw strength and happiness from love in all its forms.
It’s not so much about turning a blind eye and being naïve, but to be able to stand by your convictions and beliefs but to also seek to comprehend – even in disagreement – the opposing views. To be aware of the conflict and terror of this world but rather than simply being afraid, lets seek to understand the why in order to prevent the same mistakes happening over and over again. Even if it’s in a small way, within your own life. I may not have a solution for Syria or ISIS, but I can raise my children to be tolerant and respectful of all religions and people. Not to compound extremism or terrorism with just one religion or culture.
We can’t let them get the better of us. By turning on one another, allowing fear to take over, that’s what the terrorists want. We owe it to the future generations to continue to put one foot in front of the other, brave and strong and to continue to fuel the light and good in this world. Be part of the positive, because I sincerely believe that positivity begets positivity.
“We know what kind of world we are living in: one that is very stressful and very tense” says Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute speaks about their color of the year, Greenery. “This is the color of hopefulness, and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to.”
Here’s to making 2017 the year to reconnect, to resource, to continue to see the bigger picture. I love Pantone’s color of the year. Greenery, nature, open space are what I’ve been craving for this last half of the year. Our summer trip to Germany was so resourcing and we spent the first few days of 2017 in Bukidnon, running in the grass, hiking in the mud, playing with farm animals. Seeing Sebastian’s face light up as he gently cradled a baby chick in his hands or carry around a pomelo like it was a teddy bear. We would stare at the different sized ants marching about their business… Small moments to remind ourselves of the bigger picture. All I wanted was to immerse myself in nature. To place my feet firmly in the ground, to revel in the beauty of our earth and remind myself that there is hope. That there is good. That there is light.
I think Eiseman best sums up what 2017 should be all about. “Greenery symbolizes the reconnection with seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose”
Happy New Year everyone!
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