Preparing for a New Year

The “end” of the year is purely a human construct - one that gives us pause to celebrate, reflect, and set new goals for a new year.

But in the natural world, it’s just another day in another season in another year, for the past 4.543 billion years that our home has been in existence.

We may hope that 2022 is different, better, more productive or more positive. We can do things in our lives to help those goals along.

What can we do for the Earth in the new year? Can we appreciate her permanence and her mutability more this year? Can we recognize that through all of our human challenges and triumphs, the Earth keeps turning and keeps taking care of us? How can we help take care of her as she continues to produce and provide for our lives?

(If you need some ideas, check out my other blog - Make a Difference Monday! It’s going to be on hiatus in 2022 but still has great ideas!)

The concept of the Earth’s continuity while we celebrate a new year is beautifully woven into Cynthia Rylant’s book The Stars Will Still Shine. It is softly illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke and gives comfort in the stability of our world as we change the calendar to a new year. It’s a perfect book to share on a long New Year’s Eve night with the small ones in your life!