The start of the New Year is traditionally a time when people take stock of themselves and their achievements.
Questions will be asked: another year over, are we really happy, are we really doing the things we want and living the lives we intended?
Human nature being what it is, the answer to these questions is more often no than yes. Even the greats like John Lennon can feel they aren’t achieving their goals. As he said in the song Merry Christmas: War is Over:
Another year over, and what have we done?
Another year older, we’ve hardly begun.
Such assessments often result in a flurry of New Year resolutions in which we determine to rid ourselves of our faults and failings and make a fresh start. Then 12 months later, we take stock again and the whole process begins anew.
Should we be too self-critical at this time of year? Almost certainly not. To err is human and after all, no one is perfect and no one ever will be.
Thankfully, Ireland and the world has plenty of advice and inspirational quotes to put us in a positive frame of mind. These are some of our favourite New Year wishes. We hope you like them. Take those that appeal and ignore those that don’t.
But whatever you do, don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re almost certainly doing better than you give yourself credit for. And if some of your good intentions don’t work out, don’t worry, you can always start again next year.
* * *
“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.” ~ Lord Tennyson
* * *
* * *
“Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.” ~ Martin Luther
* * *
* * *
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” ~ Albert Einstein
“Each age has deemed the new-born year The fittest time for festal cheer.” ~ Walter Scott
* * *
* * *
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
* * *
* * *
This New Year I wish that God
Showers you with His choicest Blessings,
Fate never takes you for a bumpy ride,
Cupid strikes you with his sweetest arrow,
Lady Luck bestows upon you health and wealth,
Your Guardian Angel keeps your mind alert and bright.
* * *
* * *
Out with the old,
In with the new,
May you be happy the whole year through.
Happy New Year!
Don’t forget the past, learn from it.
* * *
* * *
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” ~ T.S. Eliot (Little Gidding)
A new year is like a blank book. The pen is in your hands. It is your chance to write a beautiful story for yourself.
* * *
* * *
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ~ Mother Teresa
No one can go back in time to change what has happened. So work on your present to make yourself a wonderful future.
* * *
Here’s Van Morrison with Celtic New Year
All images copyright Ireland Calling
Ring of Kerry cottage would be the perfect getaway from busy city life
