On Monday there was a celestial event. There was a fifteen percent sliver of moon and beside it, bold and bright, Venus and Jupiter glimmered. It was a rare planetary gathering, one that won’t occur again until March 2012. Poetry, I thought, in this time of intense change. A celestial nod to earthly upheaval.
Also this week, the forces that be, the ubiquitous “they”, announced that we are in a recession economy. Big surprise. The real estate market is bleeding by the side of the road. The stock market is a roller coaster ride (mostly plummeting) no one knows how they might, or if they should, get off. And many of the companies that seemed as eternal as the moon are threatening collapse.
And yet, I still feel hopeful that this difficult moment is a kind of karmic correction. The Universe issuing a wake-up call. Unfortunately, most of us are paying the price for the excesses of a few -- and that hurts. People are out of work, struggling, scared. And I’m in no way diminishing or glossing over that. But I have a strong sense that a dazzling new age is upon us – a time where we scale back, refocus on what’s important in our lives and in our world, make better choices.
As the holidays approach, I’m going to try to focus more on family, friends, the world we live in, to find new and better ways to give. I can’t change everything that’s wrong. Control freak that I am, I would if I could. But I can manage my personal universe, what I do, what I say. I can make little positive ripples.
For example, last year, instead of sending paper cards, I created an e-card with a picture of Ocean screaming in terror on Santa’s lap. I know she’ll hate me for it later. (Still, it was really cute.) Then I donated money to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an organization in which I have a lot of faith. I’ll do that again this year. I know. The irony that an author would be worried about saving paper is not lost on me. But, hey, we do what we can, right?
Before you think I’m on a soap box, I will admit to spending a ridiculous amount of money on party favors for my daughters upcoming birthday party. I swore I wouldn’t do it – waste money on small plastic things that clog up the environment, that no one needs or even likes. But I did. And let’s not even talk about the balloons. So, we all have work to do. I’d like to be around in 2012 to see that planetary party again; I want Ocean to see it. I want her to see it on a healthier Earth. Next year, no party favors!
I have this disease. It’s called optimism. It’s a compulsion I have to look for that silver lining. Even when I falter, fail and make mistakes ( which I do, often and spectacularly), I am already looking ahead to how I can do better. Even now, when I know that times are dark, I believe we’re on the bright edge of better days. Fight the urge to make fun of me, or discourage me, or to tell me while I’m wrong. Join me!
If you missed the beautiful heavenly party that Jupiter and Venus attended, Google it. It's a new age. Even when we aren't looking, a new moon is rising.
What I'm Reading:
BELOVED/ Toni Morrison
What I'm Listening To:
Regina Spektor/ Begin to Hope
Ocean's Favorite Book:
How The Grinch Stole Christmas!/ Dr. Seuss
thanks for the thoughts - i did see that on monday and thought it was beautiful, without even knowing it was something unique and special. i suspect much of life is like that - spectacular moments we fail to identify as such. i will look a little more carefully this year ... but i am still sending a holiday letter - i love snail mail too much!!