What will you do with your NEW year?: My perspective on living and learning

It's Friday, and time for another Friday Night Thought Tale hour at the Henderson's. There's something about December. It's a month filled with annual traditions, and it's also the month we designate on our calendar as the end of a year. The new year is coming, and I get the double whammy of my birthday, which also occurs on New Year's Day. Perhaps it's that I have a 'big' age change coming, or just that I'm running out of things to hide behind, but I've noted lately that life provides us multiple opportunities for what I'll call, "Karma Kalls". Those moments and places in time where we experience a slight hint of deja vu and a flutter in our spirit. "I've been here before", we say to ourselves. One would think that getting to change our behavior or correct a past error would make us very excited, but it often either is ignored or even worse, just makes us annoyed.

You see, we don't always view the 'issue' we are facing as having anything to do with us. It's about the people or place we find ourselves in. Damn humans, why do they always have to.... We are facing something known to us, and we pretty much know what the outcome will be, because Lord knows we KNOW how this person will respond or act. We could orchestrate the outcome, because the notes are all written. But what if, this time, we altered our course? Like avoiding a thorough fare filled with potholes, what if we just reacted differently this time? It is tougher than it sounds huh? Don't I know it. It's so irritating... Then I remember:

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." -Jung

Now as I mused about the challenge of applying what I know to the new opportunities that might lie ahead, I sat watching my grandson in his Taekwondo class. At one point, the instructor sat them down in a small circle, and asked them, "Who can tell me what wisdom is?" My grandson's hand shot up and he said, "It's when you learn something and you never forget it."  Ah, so right I thought. It is wise to learn something, and we are fortunate if we can maintain the capacity not to forget it. But real wisdom is a verb, not a noun. It struck me again, that at my age, I can be filled to the brim with wisdom, but still not acting on it in so many ways.
Pondering this, I looked up on the wall of the gym, and there, in bold writing were these words:

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: 

First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; 

and third by experience, which is the bitterest." -Confucius

Well there you have it. If we can just learn to imitate what we know will change the situation or interaction, we can avoid the bitter reality of repeating a disappointing outcome.  It's not giving up or giving in, it's simply adjusting based on our understanding and knowledge. After all, if you've been there before and didn't like the outcome, what do you possibly have to lose? It's a new year... Live a little, or live and learn a little more.

So tonight, we will toast to the days ahead when we will once again, have a chance to adjust our course and find new paths. I found a cocktail called "Karma Chameleon", which is probably a reference to Culture Club, but I'm focused on the part about changing to meet the times ahead. Remember, the changes you make don't have to be earth shaking to be important. They don't have to be noticed by others. The most important part of any change is that it brings just a little more peace and harmony to your soul.  CHEERS FRIENDS!

Karma Chameleon Cocktail

2 oz vodka
2 oz peach schnapps
2 oz Sprite® soda
grenadine syrup

Pour vodka, peach schnapps, sprite, and lastly grenadine to taste. Mix well. Serve over ice.