Questions and Answers

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Welcome to 2016!

One of my favorite quotes is from the book “Their Eyes Were Watching God” (by Zora Neale Hurston) is  “There are years that ask questions and years that answer them.”

It’s a quote that makes you contemplate the year just passed and the year standing in front of you–as you take the first steps into 2016.

I don’t think it’s one or the other. There are questions and answers for each of us every year and every day. But I do think we have years in our lives when life seems more challenging, complicated or even disruptive. There are people or events put on our paths that have us question ourselves and what is happening in our lives, and sometimes it may seem like we don’t really have the answers. These are times of reflection–the years or seasons of our lives that ask questions. But the reflection through the questioning leads to awakening–and answers.

For some of us, those first steps into a new year may be routine. For the most part, they are the same steps we took yesterday and the day before and the day before that. We like the order, the comfort and knowing what to do and when to do it, etc. But there is a part of us that also knows that each day, week, month or year can drop a surprise or two that are unplanned or unforeseen, and may be unpleasant.

And there are reminders of this all around us — the simple dropping of a glass as it hits the floor and shatters into hundreds and hundreds of pieces, the spilling of a cup of coffee, the burst of a water pipe, etc., or hearing a tragic story or event. They are reminders that stuff happens and this stuff can happen to us. This makes us think about what these events or situations may be for us and if we will be ready, which leads me to why I used to dread New Years. trees-snow

I would have preferred to shut the lights off and get under the covers until the sun came back up the next day, and just continue about my day and life. The older I got and with much reflection I realized it was the unknown that bothered me. I thought, hey, I survived the year. Yes, there were some bumps along the way but now there is a whole new year in front of me and it seems a bit scary.  I would get into this incredible cleaning mode–just ridding myself of old stuff out of closets, under beds, everywhere. I got myself into a ‘fresh start” mind set. It was sort of physical manifestation of letting go, cleaning out and clearing for a new path.

But sometimes it felt like I was getting ready or prepared for the unexpected, to make sure that everything would be in order “just in case.” Somehow, maybe this process of cleaning, organizing and clearing would prevent the unexpected from happening or had me thinking I am or would be in control. However, that “unknown” always hung out there along with the instinctual knowing that control is an illusion and that change is a constant.  Maybe subconsciously I was looking for answers to questions that didn’t even exist yet.

But as I matured and got to know myself a bit better, I realized that I have the answers. Life is a wonderful journey and through all its ups, downs and sideways we learn and we grow–and if we are really paying attention and listening to our inner voice, we honor all these experiences and emotions. We know that we are living our life as we intended. And if we don’t like what we are experiencing or feeling we have each new day to make change, to reset intention and be present.

Admittedly New Year’s Eve and Day (maybe week) is not the easiest time for me, but I have learned to embrace the unknown a bit more, to let go of fear and take that leap into the New Year with faith and trust that I am strong, resilient and empowered. So a year of questions or a year of answers? I say cheers to both!

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