As I look out on the beautiful white snow blanketing the yard, I am struck with gratitude for this pristine new year! Once again we are given the chance to use the calendar as a guide for our goals, yearnings and accomplishments. As the last year ended we celebrated the rebirth of Spirit and joy. Within this rebirth we are free to pursue the dreams we hold so dear.

We have just returned home from Costa Rica. I emptied our suitcases and took advantage of the snow and cold to throw them on the deck to clear out and get some sun! I was just looking out at them and laughed. They are so empty and full of space! Then it came to me. In this new year I want those bags to be light. What and where am I carrying around stuff, conflict, old goals that no longer apply, beliefs that are no longer valid? Will I let them lay around and rust? I don’t think so. I want to find them and then release them with love and peace. They must have served me at some point but that time is long gone.

Of course my bags will not be completely empty. I believe I need some baggage. I treasure my sweet memories, and learn from the recollections of how difficult a trial may have been. These are valuable parts of my heart. But there is plenty that just hangs around to cause me stress. We all know what these things are; The toxic relations we mentally harbor rent free, those people we have come across for a moment in the past year who just keep coming back for some bizarre reason, the regrets of long ago for which we continue to reproach ourselves.

This is our new year. Let’s all look inside ourselves with love for our actions and for our gentle hearts. Let us find the freeloaders and nasties and release them from our souls, our hearts and our lifetimes with a sweet “good-bye.” Let us think of where we want to be at the end of this year and set our goals to enjoy our life and manifest our dreams!

Let’s fill up our internal baggage this year with beautiful goals achieved, love shared, little moments of sadness embraced by Spirit and acceptance. What we create in our soul is reflected in our lives and carried on. In our baggage let there be smiles, laughter, and tears. May there be precious dreams come true and brilliant goals achieved. May our hearts rest secure in the knowledge that we are carrying what we truly desire. Let’s carry on in our life only the best!