Let’s face it: 2025 was a tough year. Personally, it was one of my hardest with the passing of my mother and my dog. And then there are the world events. I am quite happy to have the year end, (hopefully) giving us a fresh chance for better days!
As I was pondering this new year ahead, I spent time thinking about what I would like to have happen differently. Recently, I read an article about Joseph Campbell and how he wanted to study many different majors at Columbia, but was told he couldn’t – so he left and lived in a shack with no running water in Woodstock, NY, for 5 years to study all he wanted to know. I don’t think I have kind of discipline. But I did find a quote from this brilliant and interesting man that resonates:
“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.”
The rapture of being alive. Yes, that works for me. And how to do that?
Here’s an activity that may spurn some ideas: Think of a thing you did as a child that someone else would say “I could never do that!” You no doubt did whatever it was out of curiosity, tapping in to your passion. I was thinking about my children and how one did downhill ski racing, one was a near perfect baseball pitcher, and one was so determined to get across the rings on the playground that she would practice until her hands bled. I could say “I could never do that!” to all of them. But I can see how these things really tied in with what brought them a feeling of being alive.
Here’s another quote I saw recently from George Carlin that points out all ways we are NOT feeling the rapture of being alive:
“We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much. We have multiplied out possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years.”
In this case, try doing the opposite of what he says and see what happens!
I look forward to my annual New Year’s Eve meditation to review the past year and come up with my new word for the year. I believe that “adding life to years” and “living in rapture” will be considered in the mix! And you know more concerts and plays are certainly in there as well!
May you take the time to listen to your inner child, as to what brings it wonder and joy. And may this new year bring you the ability to feel the rapture of being alive!
