What will The New Year Bring?
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (28389)
Singapore
December 24, 2020 12:22pm CST
No one saw it coming. 2020 was a year tough for mankind but other species seem to do just fine.
This year was not easy for us. For one, travel was severely affected. Earlier it was pain with pleasure. Much before that it was pleasure. Those were the carefree days before 9/11 came like a bolt from the blue. It rewrote air travel treating us with exhaustive and at times invasive checking.
Now this pandemic has meant we are clutching at straws in terms of planning holidays. Where is the pleasure when we have to watch every step? It can be said we still can have a fulfilling life but then it is not life as usual.
Will a new year turn 2020 into a bad dream? We are fighting back tooth and nail for sure but the enemy is on stealth mode. We have vaccines around the corner but will they prove a magic bullet?
We want life back to as we know it but then we have been through a phase that makes us rethink our priorities. It is still survival that is foremost in our minds.
I have lived through a few earlier pandemics but they bid a hasty retreat soon after. This one tests our mettle. The weapon of mass destruction is closer to our homes.
My hope is that we will turn a new leaf in terms of peaceful coexistence. Remembering the dictum United we stand, divided we fall can pave the way for meeting whatever challenges we face. That could well be our best resolution for the New Year. Anything else will be wishful thinking.
Free Image: New Year 2021
9 people like this
11 responses
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
25 Dec 20
Yes, this year had its plusses.
We have had time for deep reflection as we spend more time in our own company.
It should also make us cherish the freedom we had which we took it for granted.
Everything is a blessing including life as a human.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (52905)
• Mojave, California
24 Dec 20
You should make more posts I always like when you write something down. You have great wisdom my friends.
3 people like this
@MistyckMoon (935)
• United States
24 Dec 20
You are right on! I am so ready for a mask free life once again. And with this pandemic I can't help but wonder... with the flu season upon us right now, are they counting the deaths from the flu as part of covid? I haven't even heard much mention about this year's flu season. Is Covid killing the flu virus? Just wondering. Hope 2021 is a much better year for everyone.
3 people like this
@yoalldudes (35028)
• Philippines
25 Dec 20
From the looks of it, we will have to weather through another year. I am more optimistic about 2022 which is a year far.
3 people like this
@cherigucchi (15932)
• Philippines
7 Jan 21
I am just hoping and praying hard that this year gives better life for all of us.
1 person likes this
@cherigucchi (15932)
• Philippines
8 Jan 21
@Shiva49 Let us all be positive and try to work things better.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
25 Dec 20
Life is often more about what we get used to, then it becomes the norm for us then too.
A man had a small house, and he was always complaining about it.
He asked the Buddha how he could feel more comfortable in his small house.
The Buddha told him to do exactly as he told him to do.
Go home, and allow your goats to live in the house with you.
Not questioning the Buddha's advice, the man did this, but after a week, of having his goats living in his house, he went back to the Buddha, and he told him that the house is now worse than before.
The Buddha smiled wisely, and said,
"Well, what you need to do now, is to take your camels into your house too, and have them live in there with you too."
Another week went by, and things went from bad to worse in the house.
The man went back again to the Buddha, who then told him, well, let the goats out again now.
A week later the man came back, saying that things were better now, bit only marginally better.
Then the Buddha said, well let your camels out now too.
A week later the man came back again, very pleased with his living arrangements now, he said they are now much better, and he never complained again.
We might have to live with this virus then, until we can push it out of our house again, but surely having it living in with us, for now, should wisen us up, in some ways too.
@innertalks (23741)
• Australia
25 Dec 20
@Shiva49 lt is pretty much up to us in a free world, but in some countries still, freedom is still curtailed, and there, it is still hard to live how one wants to live.
We should not take for granted our freedom either, as it might not always be such a given, like now, with this virus.
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
25 Dec 20
@innertalks Yes, freedom comes with caveats too, with responsibilities.
It is also true we get the leaders we deserve, meaning, we have a responsibility to pave the ground for those with wisdom and commitment
Gandhi said poignantly: “There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.”
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
25 Dec 20
Thanks Steve, it is said all material pursuits, mountains we climb for them, give limited fulfillment.
Once we reach the summit we lose the footing of achievement and soon it is downhill.
I have seen some sink into depression after they pursued a lifestyle that became past as they were unable to stick with that pursuit mainly due to health setbacks. It is easy to advice but we all have to be prepared for an honorable exit. I should quote a 2014 tweet of Trump “What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate”. Yes, circumstances change and people do too!
We should count our blessings. When we move up the ladder, we forget the blessings of a simple life where life was more balanced and not shackled by material hoardings.
In fact, "less is more" serves us well and that enables us to pursue life in its entirety without the baggage of those that are more of liabilities.
The Buddha drove home loud and clear what our lives are about.
I would say it is up to us how we want to live, No special concessions we are and we should be entitled to. We should not take advantage of even God's love.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
26 Dec 20
@Shiva49 Yes this year has sure been challenging for so many around the world. I do hope 2021 can be much better. I am doubting Covid is going away any time soon but I do hope it will some time during the new year.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60812)
• Perth, Australia
26 Dec 20
@Shiva49 We have done pretty well though some states on the Eastern side are not doing so well sadly.
I will be happy the day I hear that every country is safe from this terrible virus.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28389)
• Singapore
26 Dec 20
Your country is hands on in tackling this pandemic and it has helped.
You were able to enforce compliance which western democratic countries are reluctant to do.
No one could see this coming and staying on as an uninvited visitor.
No clue why this is so deadly and persistent.
Yes, we all want life as usual but a bit of moderation and gratefulness will help.
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
25 Dec 20
I am with you of the same hope that there will be a true peace all over the world. That would be the great changes the 2021 may offer to mankind.
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
25 Dec 20
@Shiva49 You have the point but the oligarchs reign.
2 people like this
