RE-TWEET IT!
Tweet
In a few days, it will be a New Year. On January 1st, 2009 will begin.
Interestingly, different cultures observe the birth of a New Year on different dates. In South India alone, the Tamil New Year starts in mid-January, the Telugu New Year day (Ugadi) is in April, and the Malayalis observe New Year day (Vishu) in March-April.
While the dates vary, the symbolism is strikingly similar.
Resolutions are made to improve and grow. Celebrations continue all day long, to usher in prosperity and joy. Excitement mingles with reflective nostalgia, as achievements of the past nurture dreams of the future.
Prominent among all these feelings is HOPE.
Hope that the year to come will be better in every way. Hope that the failings of the past will vanish, or that good fortune will continue. Hope that happiness, peace and comfort will endure.
And within this diverse cluster of humanity, there is a tribe. A universal tribe. One not defined by language, or religion, or geography. A tribe that shares a unique and unifying identity… in the observance of one ritual.
A ritual of hope.
This global ‘Tribe of Hope’ observes the ritual EVERY DAY. Its members look upon every dawn, all year round, as their special ‘New Year Day’ – and celebrate it, draw strength from it, seize it to grow and improve in every way they can.
Members of the tribe battle along in their business and lives, confident and steadfast despite financial meltdowns and fears of recession, despite terrorism and natural disasters, despite smaller but more personal (and therefore more painful) setbacks and challenges.
And there is one more thing that’s special about the ‘Tribe of Hope’. It has many leaders. As many as it has members. Because every member is a leader.
Each leader lends hope to his or her own tribe.
Some are inspiring and charismatic leaders like President Barack Obama, who coasted to electoral victory on a tidal wave of hope. Others are quieter and less visible, though no less impactful within their tribe.
I’m a proud member of this ‘Tribe of Hope’. And so are you.
If you haven’t yet started observing the ritual, begin this New Year day.
That’s TODAY, by the way!
{ 2 comments }
Hi DrMani,
Long time lurker and a fan of your writing.
As usual another good post from your stable but that is not the reason I am commenting.
Call me old fashioned but I am wary this thinly disguised Govt intervention in social customs,but my family would be celebrating the tamil new year as they have been celebrating it for the past several years in April/Chithirai as you are probably aware.
End of rant.
ps.No, I am not a member of the elite classes.
Dr Mani,
The date makes little difference. We can make commitments each day to grow and improve our personal lives. Rather than setting goals, I like to make promises to myself. Goals contain a hidden negative connotation. Maybe you won’t make it.
My New Year’s resolution is a promise to live gloriously. This means that I will love and honor myself and others. To do this each day, I will listen to that small voice. Today, I was led to your inspiration and will think about how I can be a leader in a Tribe of Hope.
Joy~
Jeanette
Comments on this entry are closed.