The Lens:
When you think about it, New Year’s Day is just another day. So it is the first day of a new year. So what? There is nothing different about that day than any other day. Or maybe there is. Maybe its significance comes in making us stop and think.
A few years ago, I worked for a small church running the AV presentation for their Sunday service. The theme of the service right before New Year’s Day was time. The altar was decorated with time devices – clocks, hourglasses.
I am not one who makes a New Year’s Resolution every year. I usually put some thought into it. If I can come up with something meaningful, I go for it. If not, I let it go.
That year, I was moved by the thought of time and how little thought I put into how I use my time. My resolution was to be more cognizant of time. I bought an hourglass to remind me not to take time for granted.
It might have been an omen that the hourglass didn’t work. The sand always gets stuck after a few trickles. The resolution went so-so. The hourglass still sits there as my reminder, but pandemic exhaustion took over and I had no energy for using my time wisely.
I skipped making a resolution the next 3 years – no time to think about it.
This year, I had an inspiration, kind of a piggyback to my resolution on time. I keep an intention stone on the nightstand next to my bed. It was given to me several years ago by the Sister who was the Religious Director of the school I worked for.
When I would see it there on my nightstand, I was reminded of intention and to live each day with intention. And, there it was, my resolution – to live each day with intention, think about my day, what is it I want to accomplish. It is January 17th, and, so far, it is going so-so. But, that is better than not at all.
The Refraction:
“We don’t make mistakes — we just have happy accidents.” Bob Ross
Here is the thing . . . the intention stone is actually a Prayer Pebble. And, it didn’t promote living each day with intention.
I took a good look at my stone/pebble a few days after I made my resolution. I hadn’t really looked at it in quite some time (obviously). What my Prayer Pebble actually says is:
“Keep your Word/Prayer close at hand to remind you of an intention.
Try to also do something each day to demonstrate your commitment.”
I guess the words that stuck in my mind were “intention” and “each day.” So, I twisted the meaning of the stone (i.e., pebble) to living each day with intention.
I doubt the Sister who gave it to me would be too disappointed in me for not getting it right. I think she would be glad it is had a positive affect on how I live my life.
Still, I did a huge mental eye roll when I realized my resolution was based on a misunderstanding, a misconception, a sloppy error (or two or three – not really reading the stone/pebble; in my thinking I knew what something was all about but didn’t at all).
Then, that Bob Ross quote popped into my head. I could hear his calm, soothing voice saying it as his paint brush glides over the canvas. “We don’t make mistakes – we just have happy accidents.”
Just for fun, Google “accidental inventions.” You will find all sorts of inventions (e.g., products, medicines) that were very happy accidents. (Here is one site: https://bestlifeonline.com/accidental-inventions/.)
As is typical with me, my mind wandered/wondered even more – wondering how much of our life is altered by happy accidents. Sometimes, like my resolution, we may know we stumbled upon it. Other times, we may have no idea an accident ever occurred.
Happy accidents. What are yours?