Waun Happy New You
Happy New You
By The Rev. Renee Waun, Unitarian Universalist Church
POSTED: January 5, 2008
A number of years ago some dear friends of mine adopted a little girl, whom they named Caroline, from an orphanage in Korea. Caroline was about three years old when she experienced her first American holiday season with her adopted family. She was adapting remarkably quickly to every aspect of her new western environment, including all the different foods, customs and words she had to learn in her new second language, English.
When it was new Years day, her parents were trying to teach her how to say “Happy New Year.” All she could manage was “Happy New YOU,” because she couldn’t quite pronounce the “R” at the end (typical for Koreans who are learning to speak English. That “R” is the hardest!).
When my friends told me about Caroline’s New Year wish, we all agreed that maybe her way of saying it was even better than ours in many regards. First of all the phrase “Happy New Year” has been used so much that it seems to have lost its “punch,” becoming superficial and cliché. By changing the “Year” to “You” it is no longer an overused sentiment that holds less meaning, but it captures our attention because we are now using words that are fresh and thought provoking instead of dutiful and routine. All of a sudden, just by changing that one word, the greeting reflects a more sincere sentiment than the tired old one we always use.
Secondly, there is the recognition that in January we do more than just roll over another page on our calendars. In this moment we are afforded the opportunity to “be” and “do” and “choose” and “act” differently than we ever have before, and this is always true, every day, every moment, regardless of what chronological date is at the top of the page. In this “now” moment we don’t have to simply be carried along in a dimension called time as if it is the passage of Time alone that changes things. What happens during that time? It is, more accurately, “we” who change things, beginning with ourselves and over time we can see amazing shifts.
Finally, by using the word ‘You” in our New Ye greeting we are accentuating the fact that attitude is everything. How many times do we see people who wait for something to happen “to” them or “for” them or even “in spite of” them in order for them to be happy? Happiness, those people might say, will only come after I get that new job, or after that relationship improves or after my body is healthier. After one or more of these conditions is met, than, and only THEN can I be happy.
But there is an old Chinese proverb that suggests just exactly the opposite. It says, “The key to happiness is wanting – more than anything else – what you already have.” How many of us can actually live by these wise words? Yet, by finding that place of profound gratitude deep inside ourselves – and by living, creating, acting, speaking, teaching, and “be”-ing from this place – we will experience and radiate the happiness and joy that we were all born to have. We will not be chasing around trying to get the surrounding circumstances to change so we can be happy, we will be our own powerful creators of happiness. What could be more satisfying than that?
What about you? What about me? Are we going to find happiness in the new year? Can we find that inner place of genuine gratefulness and love that makes happiness ours?
It is truly not a function of the calendar at all; it’s a function of how we choose to think, and the feelings that result from our own positive thoughts. It’s worth the time; it’s worth the effort; it’s worth the attitude adjustment for this “now” moment and for all the moments and days that lie ahead, as we enter this new year together.
Meanwhile, Happy New YOU!