Last Photo of 2021

 

Happy New Year! I don't think many of us will be sad to say goodbye to 2021.  

A thought came to me as an interesting metaphor. What was the last photo you took in 2021? Mine is of the Buddha statue pictured above. It strikes me as a fitting metaphor in many ways. I think of Buddhism as a philosophy that teaches how to be in the present moment and see each moment, each day anew. Begin again and again as a beginner. To me I think that is fitting for the last couple of years because life as we knew it (pre-Pandemic) has ended.. at least temporarily. And just as we thought we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for this pandemic to be under control, Omicron came along and we're back in chaos again.  Living in the Unknown is the new normal. 

Yet there is still hope in this image above. The Buddha is surrounded by dead leaves, the shedding of 2021's trees. The Buddha's face is calm and serene and centered out in nature- seemingly oblivious of all of the drama and chaos in the outer world. Somehow we have to find that inner place for ourselves. 

That's where my music comes in. What I am playing, I go to a place like that within. The noise of the outer world is not there and the demands of daily life are put on hold. We all have something we do that takes us there. I bet listening to music takes you there. 

Then there is the idea that came to me as the last activity done in 2021. For me it was walking a Labyrinth 

and this one is particularly good to sum up 2021! See how old and worn these stones are? At some points, the stones are warn down so much that it's hard to see which way you are supposed to go. Walking in a maze, like facing the unknown.. where will I end up? Then others join this maze and some are going to the center, others on their way out. At times we intersect and  we have to stay focused on our own path or we could be swayed to follow someone else. I did that one time in a Labyrinth - I thought I was going the wrong way and followed someone else.. little did I know they were doing the same thing! Do you see the metaphor here? :) Yesterday though, I did not get lost.  There were children playing in the Labyrinth at one point . An old me would have been annoyed. (kids! ) but yesterday I was unfazed. Good to see. I have become more patient. Another perk about the pandemic. Things that used to annoy me don't anymore.  Small things are what make life interesting and meaningful. 

So how about you? What was your last photo and what metaphor comes up for you about this past year? 

What was your last activity of the year and what does that say about your growth? 

Reply below if you want! I'd love to hear from you. 

I wish you all the best year ever !! Thanks for stopping by!