Since this is New Year’s Eve and everyone is
looking for a better year ahead. It really isn’t going to take much to improve
on the year that ends tonight.
I always like to see what animal rules the Chinese
lunar New Year, although it doesn’t technically begin until February 17. We are
in luck for the year ahead since it is the year of the Fire Horse. Apparently, this
combination of element and animal is a Zodiac event that happens only every 60
years.
The Fire Horse is a combination of the
independence, or freedom, of the horse ignited by the boldness and high energy
of fire. The Fire Horse year is considered to be a lucky year and provide ample
opportunity for personal growth, passion, action, and adventure. The caveat being
that the rapid pace could turn into chaos.
The fire year speaks to me since I seem to have
been on a rampage of putting out fires. I’ve learned to take one day at a time
and not lie awake thinking about what new fire might break out overnight.
I’ve learned more than I ever wanted to know in
the past year. I think about how simple life used to be and how complicated it
is now. I have so many different fires to put out that I had to make a “day of
the week” priority to keep myself on track. One of the best things I did for my
mental and physical health was to schedule Sunday as my day of rest.
At midnight, we symbolically get a do-over. Most
of us know that technically, it’s just another day. Life doesn’t magically
change just because we toss out the old calendar and hang a new one.
We will wake up the first of January and still be dragging
around the same baggage that we had the day before. Our sorrows, worries, and
fears don’t disappear overnight.
Rather than
making resolutions that I won’t keep, I will take a moment to reflect on how
much I’ve accomplished and learned in the past year. From the losses of the
last year, I’ve gained the wisdom that life is too precious to waste. I know
that my loved ones who left this world will always live in my heart and bring
comfort to my soul.
I have been blessed to have found love twice. Each
memory, each piece of wisdom, each whisper of love, will stay with me. Eventually,
I will focus on what I gained from them instead of feeling that I lost a part
of myself.
I do have some hopes for the year ahead. I would
like to play music at the nursing homes again. I’ve been practicing on my
guitar and somedays think I’m making progress. I want to spend more time with
family and friends. I want to relax more and stress less.
In the Year of the Fire Horse, I want to wish everyone
“Happy Trails.” If you celebrate, stay
safe.
Copyright © December 2025 by L. S. Fisher
#ENDALZ