A Mindful New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve got a lot better a number of years ago when I took advice from Mrs. Sharp.  That's the Victorian super-mom in Sarah Ban Breathnach's first book, "Mrs. Sharp's Traditions: Nostalgic Suggestions for Re-Creating the Future Celebrations and Seasonal Pastimes of the Victorian Home."  It's one of my favorite books, as I am nothing if not seasonal.


Her suggestions for a Good Riddance party is the foundation for our mindful New Year's Eve.  I re-read my journal for the year ... often a kind of horrifying experience. As I go, I keep notes on what I'm glad is over.  I also find all kinds of good ideas and insights that I'd forgotten, so it's good to know that I was that smart in April. 

Then we write it all down, put it in one of the remaining ashtrays from our previous incarnation as smokers, and set the notes on fire.  Good Riddance.

Then comes the time for thanksgiving.  My daughter, my son ... they've had pretty good years. Our ministries got kicked up a step.  My husband survived a heart attack and is now healthier than ever. I write a letter to God ... a prayer ... that I keep in a Bible.  Reading the old ones helps bring needed perspective ... and sets the stage for writing the new one. 

This is followed by a great feast of rosemary olives, good cheese and crackers, Really Good potato chips, vegetarian Sloppy Joes, carrot slaw, cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries and a mocktail. Then we watch a good movie.  I try not to do "Sleepless in Seattle" every time, but I love Nora Ephron movies.

In the last few years, we've got to the Night Watch at church ... a tradition coming out of the African-American churches ... and we sing and pray to welcome in the new year. 

"The Mindfulness Solution"

So you want to be more mindful?  How?

Mindfulness has been listed as one of the top trends predicted for 2014.  The restless and relentless pace of high-tech life and a craving for Spirit-based peace are driving this.  One of the must-reads on the path to Christian mindfulness is a book by Ronald D. Siegel, an assistant clinical professor of psychology at Harvard. 

"The Mindfulness Solution:  Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems"  starts out with a chapter titled "Life Is Difficult" and ends with a mindful approach to facing aging and death.  You can't be much more comprehensive than that.  It's really helpful with lots of ideas for formal and informal practices specific to building a mindful life, dealing with specific concerns (worry, depression, pain, etc.) and resources. You can see many of these practices at www.mindfulness-solution.com

It's not a Christian approach, but many of the techniques are so helpful that they can be adapted to inviting God into the mindfulness easily.  His work is also linked to positive psychology as you can see here.   This is the year to let go and let God by being mindful.  This book helped me.