May you have the courage to treat your life as this unique and marvelous thing that it is, and proceed accordingly. Happy New Year!
Every end-of-year review might sound cliché. It's inevitable, though, to look in the rearview and let ourselves be involved in this old transition metaphor.
We're made of endings and beginnings, after all. And it's human nature to look into the future with bare feet on the present, waiting for the upcoming waves.
In the Chinese Horoscope, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. 2022 has been the Year of the Tiger.
The rabbit might be smaller, lighter, and softer, but let's not assume it's not as brave as a tiger. While the tiger is strong enough to run, the rabbit is brave enough to jump, to leap into the new. And that bravery moves mountains. Courage moves us along.
Courage might adopt different shapes, sizes, and contrasts of lights and shadows, and that's why I believe it can manifest both into a roaring tiger and a quiet rabbit.
So I've concluded that 2023 should be the Year of Courage.
Courage for what?
Courage to keep moving. To step forward. And to step back whenever it's needed. To step up in self-awareness, and bow down in humbleness and respect.
To welcome others onboard. And to decide when you're ready to offboard.
Courage to speak, to nod, to disagree. To voice out what is not fair, and speak up about what doesn't feel right.
To dislike, to be disapproved, criticized, and misjudged. But to remain honest with yourself.
Courage to be yourself. To express your needs and concerns. To clean up from what no longer serves you. To accept the necessary pain of change. To allow yourself to feel. To cry. And to laugh. To look in the eye. To ask for a helping hand. To comfort.
Courage to face your fears and bring your shadows to light. To forgive others and to forgive yourself.
May you have the courage to decide it's time to go. To finish an old cycle and begin a brand-new one.
To break patterns, to defy the status quo. To innovate. To disrupt. To create. To be silent and to be loud. To stand out from the crowd.
To stand up for yourself. To raise your head. To raise your hand. To say that you don't know. But that you're willing to learn.
Courage to be vulnerable. To admit mistakes. To apologize. To recognize the lessons of failure and the blessings of growth. To try again.
To hold on to what nurtures you. To let go of what drains you. To imagine a different future, to accept different outcomes. To wonder what it could be like if you just tried. And to realize the biggest regret might be to resign another trying time.
To be grateful. To appreciate and admire. Allow yourself to be inspired. To acknowledge the value of those who are important for your journey. And to acknowledge your own worth.
To be proud of yourself. To support every part of your being. To embrace your story, your setbacks and breakthroughs. To rewrite your old narratives, turn the page, and start a new chapter, word by word, day by day.
May you have the courage to adjust your sails and leave the shore. To head into the unknown. To be awed, surprised, shocked, and shaken. To discover. And to end up finding yourself halfway.
Courage to treat your life as this unique and marvelous thing that it is, and proceed accordingly.
Courage to celebrate this year that has gone by and greet another year of possibilities. And the courage to let the brand new into your life.
Hope you have a 2023 of ruthless courage.
Happy New Year!
Love,
Ana Clara.
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