Change

You must be the change you want to see in the world.
-- Mahatma Gandhi, Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)

Unconditional change. Not, I'll change when you do. Not, I'll open up when you do. Not, I'll trust when you've proven yourself. Not, I'll be nice to you when you deserve it.

Old patterns die very hard. And it is hard not to become that what we've feared, once the tables are turned. Having been powerless, how easy it is to fall for the lure of power. Having been helpless, how easy it is to never accept help. Having been cut off, how easy to think you don't need anyone. Having been so scared, how easy to never risk again.

It sometimes becomes clear that our plans have irremediable failed. The game is over and we've lost. The consequences of failure may be dreadful. Nevertheless, there's nothing more to be done. Our moves are exhausted; the deadline is past. If we continue to occupy ourselves with the thing at this point, we fall into the trap of reversion. Reversion is the temporal opposite of fixation. In fixation, we work furiously to hasten an immovable future. In reversion, we labor to change the immutable past.
-- "Mental Traps, the over-thinker's guide to a happier life", Andre Kukla

This is a year of new beginnings. Happy 2009!

And yes. I remember I said the same thing last year. So? :-) This year will be different!

For one thing, I'll REALLY remember to bring the cloth bags into the store. And that's only the beginning :-)