It’s 2021 !

We are now past the year of 2020 and I feel many people have a changed perspective about their lives and how to go about living them in this new year . Several things have changed in my life, how about yours?

As we leave 2020 and have learned to despise a virus, having to wear masks and be fearful, had left many without proper food, water or shelter nor the ability to earn a living; this has had many people tense, upset, confused and in despair. However, now there’s a vaccine to fight the virus, food being shared and other needs being taken care of and many new remote options for learning a skill and earning money.

As we come into a new year, this moment calls for a brief reflection. To recall all the hurdles and struggles we all overcame. It has been one of the most unsure and unstable year for most of us, with all the drama, trauma, obstacles and tough times. We have all went through something, that has either left us sad, scarred or bruised. Yet, we may have gotten a new insight about ourselves and in how to be more patient, resourceful and resilient.

We had experienced a social tragedy which questioned our humanity and morality, degraded decency, victimized many vulnerable people and made us more concerned with our own mortality. As we gather our thoughts, recalling our experiences and all of what is good, just and right; 2021 has begun.

Now calling out for us to be more conscientious socially, spiritually, culturally, caring more about our health and to respond to the past and future issues that may jeopardize many things in our world. As we can use this time now, to see more clear, in the need to take care of our world and the needs as they arise and to be aware of; what really is the real importance and what matters most to us, the process and paths we must take to protect it all and the opportunities to use to put it in action.

We all have our lists and ideas of how and what needs are to be addressed:

Some could be about our climate or the air and waterways in cleaning them up and keeping them clean. Others have concerns about farmers and slaughter houses, over breeding, inhumane treatment and killing of animals, chemicals and unhealthy substances and additives to our foods and what we ingest. There has been concerns about our healthcare industries, our government, our laws and rights, our law enforcement and the handling of any political or racial disputes in general. The more remotely active things became there has been concerns with children getting proper education and even children being bullied online because of their appearance. Many essential workers without jobs and may have became Ubers, Lyft, Doordash and Eat-street drivers (tipping is essential). There’s also concerns with Native Americans that live on reservations in having food, water, proper sanitizers and of those whom live in countries that don’t have proper facilities to refrigerate the Covid 19 vaccine. These are just a highlighted few….

To wrap it up, We took a pause in our lives, we re-defined our values and our priorities, we re-evaluated our definition of success, we took advantage of technology and made it work for us and we realized that planning is important, but kindness, compassion, empathy, spirituality, immunity and resilience are crucial.

Let’s all have a great New Year!

C .Star. V

The Effect and Affect of our Lives.

I have written previously on this blog about the choices we make, as well as the good’s, bad’s, right and wrongs. Yet, when speaking about the outcomes from our choices and decisions, whether it turns out good, right, wrong or bad; it is only ‘us’ that will be truly able to determine this for ourselves. We have the ability ‘to put or place’ the experience, the moments or the what-evers, ‘wherever-or-however’s-the way we-choose’ (ahh again another choice).

Ya’ see, we can allow it to consume us or not to consume us and as well , how we relate it to us in whichever way chosen. We can adjust it within ourselves, even the levels in which we will let it upset us or not. This will be, all in how we convey it, within and to ourselves (and to others). This all will be determined by us.

Yes, in how we allow it to ‘effect us’ and ‘affect us’. That is why, sometimes we will run across people that may have experienced some of the same things as ourselves and some will feel the same way as we do and others may choose to feel differently. Now, I did say ‘they choose to feel differently’ because well, we can choose.

Think for a moment of something that you have experienced, whether it was either good or bad. If it was good, will you want to remember it? How will you use this experience? How has it helped you? Will you share it to help others?

If it was not so good or bad, will you want to remember it? How will you use this experience? How has it effected or affected you?  Will you use the experience, share the lesson or forgive to forget it? or will you harbor it like a collection of something you have no use for and allow it to use up time and space (in your life and in this case, your mind). Will you allow it to be added to your collective negative thoughts, just waiting to explode, make you feel like a victim at every situation in your life and hinder you from enjoyment and progress?

Time waits for no one, (very famous saying) and a true statement because it’s time consuming and useless to harbor negative feelings. There’s no period of time in your life that will wait and stand-still as you hold onto sad thoughts, bad feelings, or anything of the such. You have the power, for it to ‘not have a negative effect or affect upon you’. It may take some key lessons, such as forgiveness, courage, integrity and possibly a bit of prayers and education, but you are the gatekeeper with the keys, use those keys…

C .Star. V