A Big, Shiny, Brand New Year!
How many times do any of us really ponder the gift of life? Most of us go through life in a mindless procession of maneuvering about our world, without really considering what it means to wake up each morning to see the miracles that occur. We all too often fail to appreciate the many wonders of life and we begin taking those gifts for granted. Therefore, I try to end each night with a profound feeling of gratitude for the many blessings recovery has brought me.
I am guilty of taking life for granted also! Too often, I find myself bustling through the daily rigors without pausing to appreciate all the amazing gifts of the past sixteen years has given me. Saying my gratefuls each night is one way that I know I will pause, if even for a moment, at least once a day. I have definitely gotten more used to the gift of recovery: there was a time when each day was awe-inspiring for me. My addiction caused me to reach such a hard bottom that crawling out of that place gave me so much appreciation.
My joy at being alive did not occur immediately after entering treatment, though. I went through several months of feeling more dead than alive due to the intense withdrawal of heroin addiction. However, once I began feeling better I could not believe how good I felt. Each morning brought intense feelings of joy, where my first thought was “My God! I feel so great!” I never became used to that feeling and there is still wonder in each morning as I gaze expectedly to the day ahead, allowing myself a warm moment to bask in the enjoyment of the promise of a new day in a life that is finally worth living. When I had been in the throes of addiction, I never dreamed how wonderful my life would one day be.
So, here it is—2010—a brand new year! The New Year also holds special meaning to me because it was in January of 1994 that some stroke of luck and timing brought me recovery. When I look ahead to 2010, I see 365 days of joyful mornings, each with the promise of unexpected gifts. What will 2010 bring me? What lessons will I learn? What will I give to others? What adventures will take place? To me, a new year brings forth renewed optimism and hope. On January 18, it will be 16 years since I took a shot of heroin or did a hit of cocaine. Back in the dark days of the early 1990’s, who would have ever believed that my life would be what it is today? But I am living proof that change can and does happen.
As I lay in bed on New Year’s morning, I thought about what I wanted to accomplish this year. I want to make more changes to my life. My biggest personal goal is to continue to become healthier so I can live a long, long time with my beloved husband, Les. Les and I both gained a few pounds over the past two months so we are making a commitment to eat a little healthier (and a little less) than we did in November and December!
My biggest professional goal is to publish my book and I am really hoping that it will be out within this next year. The editing is taking a lot longer than I imagined it would but we are still plugging away on it.
I also want to continue my path of professional development in the field of psychology so I can be a better instructor for my students. I really do love teaching.
The biggest plan I have for the New Year is that Les and I are going to be visiting Egypt next November. It has been many, many years since I have been back to Egypt and I am so looking forward to meeting some of my relatives and seeing the place where I was born (Alexandria). Therefore, this trip brings forth another change I plan to make: I am going to learn as much Arabic as I can over the next year so that I can perhaps carry on a bit of conversation with my relatives who do not speak English. I am so excited about this trip—it’s been a lifelong dream to go.
Being a visual person, I always imagine the New Year wrapped up as a big, shiny present, filled with promise, hope, and optimism for a wonderful and productive year. What we gain from that big shiny box is completely up to each of us—we all have the power to make 2010 the best year yet!
Here’s to a wonderful 2010, folks! May the New Year bring you all the hope and dreams you deserve!
Peace
Melinda
P.S. I apologize for not having a podcast—Les and I are traveling again and I (again!) left the recording equipment in Massachusetts!
Categories: Courage,Reflections,Happiness,Addiction and Recovery,Transformation and Change,Writing the Memoir,Gratitude
Tags: writing the memoir transformation and change happiness Hope in the New Year gratitude addiction and recovery 2010
Melinda,
Another great post! I too am excited and invigorated about what the new year may hold.
Like many others,
I am also excited to read your book! Keep us all informed on it's progress...
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Dear Eddie, my beloved friend--
I feel so much excitement for you for the upcoming year also. I know it is going to be a great one for both of us! I just feel it in my bones!
Melinda
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Wow, you wrote about the name of my blog. What you wrote here is a good reminder to me to be grateful all the time. The power in this is process is transformational. But it is easy to get distracted and forget, so I appreciate your reminder.
warmly,
Erika
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Hi Erika,
How cool that what I wrote about is the name of your blog--and I will definitely be stopping by soon to check it out!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Melinda
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Dear Melinda, wishing you and Les a very Happy New Year. Certainly, it sounds like you've got some marvelous plans already!
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Thank you so much, Svasti! And of course, the same right back atcha! I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be an awesome beginning to an awesome new decade!
Melinda
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Hello Hello Melinda!! Happy New Year to you and Les(again)!! I loved to read this post! You can just feel the positivity between the lines! I have to say, that ever since 2010 started I have this happy feeling!
I have no doubt that this year will be filled with success for you ^_^!!
Take care!!
TJ
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Hey there, TJ! So nice to see you! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this post--I had a lot of fun writing it!
I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be a winner for you too, my friend!
Melinda
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Happy new year, Melinda.
Editing can certainly take forever, but at least you're well on your way to publication. I'm still trying to psyche myself up to make another stab at trying to find an agent for my novel...tomorrow.
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Happy New Year to you too, Jay!
Jay, you MUST work on publishing your novel! I cannot wait to read it! No procrastinating!
Melinda
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What a great post! Yes, life is the most precious gift of all and as I gave suffered to near death experiences I'm keenly aware of that.
January 1 has no personal significance to me. The first day of the new year for me is the day after Winter Solstice. That was when I made my withdrawal from the burden of social networking for the duration of the holiday season.
That "break" provided me with the time I needed to get my bloggingtips blog into shape, and buy a domain and domain mapping for it. Yoo Hoo! Mission accomplished. Please change your bookmarks to reflect the change to the new domain http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com
I also did a lot of work on my new tumblr blog as well and now that the blog clean-ups have been done I can initiate the rest of my plans.
I intend to spend far more time with my beloved, my friends and family in the New Year and less time online.
Your plans sound so exciting. I would love to travel and can't wait to read your updates on your trip to Egypt.
Here's a huge cyber {{HUG}} for you. You are a champion and a shining beacon of healing light to all who make your acquaintance. Long may you shine!
Love and peace,
TiTi
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Timethief, my dear friend! How lovely to see you.
How wonderful that you have had the time to put your blogging house in order (so to speak
I'm definitely updating my bookmarks and also need to catch up on my favorite blogs (including yours). It was good for me to take a semi-vacation during the past few weeks.
Here's a big ((((((((((((((cyberhug)))))))))))))) right back atcha, TT! May you prosper and thrive in 2010, my friend!
Melinda
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Melinda, thank you so much for writing this wonderful post.
I appreciate the questions you ask yourself at the begining of a new year:
"What will 2010 bring me?
What lessons will I learn?
What will I give to others?
What adventures will take place?"
Your following words also inspired me a lot :
"Being a visual person, I always imagine the New Year wrapped up as a big, shiny present, filled with promise, hope, and optimism for a wonderful and productive year. What we gain from that big shiny box is completely up to each of us"
Melinda, I'm so glad to know all of your dreams and plans for 2010. In particular It's so nice to hear that you wish to continue serving as a psychologist. I hope you will finally be able to see your relatives in Alexandria, Egypt (I think one of my blog's teammate Alshimaa also lives there. (http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/alshimaahelmy)) and will also be to learn enough arabic to express your feelings of love and kindness with your relatives as you share your kindness and love here with us, your readers and friends.
I wish all the best to you too!
Ibn Hanif
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Dear Ibn Hanif,
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your lovely comments. As always, they mean so much to me. I know that Guiding Friends has really inspired me to learn more about my heritage and so I am really looking forward to our visit to Egypt. I will check out your teammate Alshimaa's blog!
Thank you again, my friend!
Melinda
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Melinda, thank you so much for writing this wonderful post.
I appreciate the questions you ask yourself at the begining of a new year:
"What will 2010 bring me?
What lessons will I learn?
What will I give to others?
What adventures will take place?"
Your following words also inspired me a lot :
"Being a visual person, I always imagine the New Year wrapped up as a big, shiny present, filled with promise, hope, and optimism for a wonderful and productive year. What we gain from that big shiny box is completely up to each of us"
Melinda, I'm so glad to know all of your dreams and plans for 2010. In particular It's so nice to hear that you wish to continue serving as a psychologist. I hope you will finally be able to see your relatives in Alexandria, Egypt (I think one of my blog's teammate Alshimaa also lives there. (http://www.blogcatalog.com/user/alshimaahelmy)) and will also be to learn enough arabic to express your feelings of love and kindness with your relatives as you share your kindness and love here with us, your readers and friends.
I wish all the best to you too!
Ibn Hanif
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As-salamu alaikum and Happy New Year!
I can feel the energy and excitement you have for the New Year from reading this post. I think a trip to Egypt sounds amazing. How exciting! I'm currently living in the UAE and am trying to learn Arabic, too. After I get to a certain point, I hope to visit other countries in the region, including Egypt.
I also feel that the New Year (as with birthdays) is a special time to be grateful for life and all that's positive in it.
I wish you well in this New Year and hope it's the best ever!....until next year
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As-salamu alaikum, to you also, my friend!
I want to visit the UAE while I am in the MIddle East, although I am not certain we'll be able to. I have long wanted to go visit my relatives in Egypt and so I am really excited about this upcoming trip.
Best Wishes for a Wonderful New Year!
Melinda
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Thank you for a timely reminder. I SO needed to read this today! I hope 2010 is a great year for you, full of fufillment, joy, and contentment.
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Hi Jennifer,
It sometimes amazes me how we are given just what we need--when we need it. I have found that if I keep my mind and heart open, the world often speaks to me.
Take care,
Melinda
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Happy New Year, Melinda! You were one of the special presents under my Christmas tree this year. And what a wonderful gift you're being every day to yourself.
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Aww, NP--thank you so much! I am so happy we have become friends in this last year and I look forward to many more years of friendship!
Melinda
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