Happy New Year from Coteau Valley Farm! I wish you all a safe and blessed New Year. In an instant it seems we are all another year older and preparing for new beginnings...again. A new branch on a tree. For me once winter starts chilling the outside world, I begin to defrost my own world. In my mind, I am waiting for mid-March! Something about spring. The fresh life and new beginnings. I love to wait for spring every year. I dream of the first daffodils that happily creep out of the ground. The smart grasses that start to peep out, turning the world the fresh green color! Even the air is new and exciting. It smells like the world is alive when the lovely month of March visits. Existence seems to fill up from top to bottom with the sounds and colors of this beautiful world! It is now another season, much like spring. A season marked with fresh beginnings and new promises. Joys to achieve that we hope and dream of achieving. It is a time for new possibilities! On New Year's, as we all know, many grand resolutions are made. Resolutions that will seemingly transform our lives and give us the happiness we desire. Commitments made to improve our lives from fitness to new jobs, the list is endless. Sometimes these undertakings are fulfilled. More often than not they go unachieved, and worse than that they are soon forgotten. These resolutions were goals that we were not able to achieve. Not through our own fault but because they were not reasonable. We expected too much from ourselves. Making these pledges does not bring us peace but anxiety and worry. In all our planning, I have come to believe it is better not to plan any burdensome goals on ourselves. Stop reaching for new resolutions to make, instead resolve one thing, to be grateful. Resolve this year to sit back and say thank you and mean it! Be grateful that we are all still alive and able to breathe, a breath is such a precious gift. Let 2024 be a life-changing year. Sit back, take a deep breath, and thank God for everything. Thank Him for the good, the bad, and the in-between. Instead of reaching our hands or eyes for something we desire or complaining about what is already on our plate. We should instead take a deep breath, close our eyes, relax, and exclaim, 'Thank you, Lord!' A spirit full of thankfulness can give you so much peace, it also strengthens your mind and soul. Try it! Instead of beating yourself up with unreasonable expectations that leave the feeling of disappointment, do not focus on achieving anything. Instead, say thank you. Thankfulness to God opens our eyes to the sufferings of others in our lives. To those who get by with much less than we do, or those who have much fewer resources in their lives. Perhaps in the beginning this resolve may seem like an irritating task. Thank God for that! I am grateful for the annoyances, or heartaches, for the sadness, and drudgery. Yup, do it! What do you have to lose? Think instead rather about what could be gained for your personal well-being. Relax your mind and muscles. Notice how it feels when you take a deep breath and loosen up your facial muscles? I was surprised how my face felt when I relaxed, softer and kinder. Quieting your heart changes your perspective. You will enjoy the moment. The quietness and peace WILL fill your soul. This is so much smarter than any objective you may or may not achieve. Gratitude is a translucent peace, a lovely state that cannot be seen, and is intangible except to those who have a heart full of appreciation. This year do not make a resolution to do or achieve anything. This year begin the journey to a thankful heart and let the gratitude change you. It will! Gratitude is the resolution that always makes the year worth it! Gratitude does not fail anyone. Gratitude changes all of creation and has a resolve unlike anything in the world. Gratitude is full of fortitude and always succeeds. Gratitude will attain its goal and everyone will benefit from its outcome. Prepare for the dramatic change being thankful brings about in your heart, mind, and soul. It will brighten the world and change everyone. Gratitude will also encourage others to resolve to have the same spirit. Good luck and give it a try! Take one thank you at a time, feel the joy. I know one thing is true. Being gracious will not disappoint anyone. God will reward the thankful heart. Happy New Year 2024 and thank you!
Good resolution!!