Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Let the Light Shine Bright This Year

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This New Year,  I came across two brilliant posts on word of the year as blogger - one by Shailaja and the other by Alana, I wondered whether I should have one too. And if yes, what would that word be? Three words kept holding my attention - Joy, Promise and Light. I could not in any way decide on one and let go of the other. Then, help arrived. In the form of a sign. A surprise so unexpected that it filled me with joy and showed me the promise of future. A promise that lay in the endeavors I would make if I remained true to myself. The surprise was a book I received through the Costco Connection Book Giveaway wherein Costco members can enter for a chance to win a signed copy of the book of the month. Since I had entered so many times with no luck, I had quite forgotten about it. But last night, when I checked the mail box, a white bubble wrapped package awaited picking. Still having no clue as to which book I had got, I opened the package and what did I see - Anthony Doerr's All The Light We Cannot See......




The book was on my wish-list for a long time but because it was in such high-demand, it was forever off the library's book-shelf. I could not believe my luck as I stared at the book, smiling like a child who had found a lost toy. 

And, if you have guessed it by now, the word of the year for me was decided. It would be - Light.

I remember a story I had read a long time ago. A master had to run some errands so he asked his disciple to take charge of his house. The only task the disciple had to do in his master's absence was to keep darkness out of the house. The master left. As the day descended, darkness started creeping in. The disciple was clueless. In his ignorance, he started beating around with a broom, thinking that would be enough to keep the darkness out. By the time the master returned, the disciple was exhausted and the house was dark. The master lit a candle which radiated the surroundings. 

What does the story tell us? 

The disciple focused on the darkness while the master brought out the light. 
Shifting the perspective towards one positive thing helped negate the gloominess of the house. 

We mortals have our flaws. We suffer from jealousy, anger, bias, ego and what not. All this blinds us. Our hearts close. Our eyes are shut. We forget what it means to be receptive, or loving or caring. We fail to see the light. It is not possible that we will not make any mistakes. We will. But when we fail to rectify the wrongs that we have done, we fail to see the light. We choose to be blinded. 

This year I will make every effort to see the light and be guided by it. 

This year I want to see What Else is Possible? A beautiful thought that stays with me from the past year. I borrow it from Andrea Davis Pinkney's The Red Pencil, a stirring portrayal of the genocide in Darfur, as seen from the eyes of a twelve-year old girl, Amira. Since I cannot do complete justice to the beauty of this thought, I am including the bit where it appears in the book:





Will you too, dear friends, see the light this year?

Will you too try to find out what else is possible? Will you too be guided by the light within and without to open the closed doors of your hearts?  

Linking it to Alphabet Salad Word of the Year Linkup - 2017 and #MondayMusings at Everyday Gyaan


28 comments:

  1. Your post was the perfect way for me to start my day - so inspirational in so many ways, from the Leonard Cohen quote to being reminded of one of my favourite 2016 reads to the beautiful story and finally to an introduction to a new-to-me book (which I will be adding to my list of books to read). Thank you for this lovely post, and please consider adding your link to my word of the year linkup so that others can appreciate it too!

    http://www.alphabetsalad.com/2017-word-year-linkup/

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    1. Thanks Laurel....I added my post to the linky.....:)

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  2. A lovely post with important takeaways for practice in the new year!

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  3. Beautifully written. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead

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  4. नववर्ष की बहुत बहुत बधाई, सुनैना।

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  5. That's a beautiful thought to start the New year with. Change of perspective can resolve issues and show a path we thought wasn't possible. I wish you a very happy New year, filled with happiness and light.

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  6. Yes, I too am at a stage when the light beckons me to open up the closed chambers of my heart, deeply buried under layers of thoughts, emotions, ideas and memories, some good and some not so good ones. I'm looking to live fully and observe more so the light is very important for me. Wishing you a very fulfilling year ahead, Sunaina. :)

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    1. Isn't it so helpful to shed that load off our mind and set ourselves free....so that we can see the light....Wish you a radiant New Year Esha....:)

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  7. The red pencil does ring a bell in me, I have so many things lined up this year. I would be running between promos and blogging partnerships with launches. I really hope to squeeze in a book or two between.

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    1. It is a touching book written for children but it struck a chord inside me....Do read it Menaka.....

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  8. Light is a magical word because when you are going to focus on lighting the candle within you, miracles are bound to happen. The quote by Leonard Cohen and the excerpt 'What else is possible?' are inspirational. Add visualisation to your idea of light and see where it leads to. I wish you all the best. For me, I have thought a lot about my word and have decided it will be 'Shrink' - Shrink my anxiety, Shrink my doubts and shrink the number on the weight machine :D

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    1. Shrink - an intersting word Anamika....and used well by you.....I wish you luck in that...Read The Red Pencil....when Dhruv grows up, you can share it with him....

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  9. I love your WOTY, Light Sunaina! The word itself is uplifting and that's just the right note to begin the year, filled with positivity! Let there be Light, Happiness and Joy in all your endeavors! I really want to read this book!

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    1. Thank you so much Kala.....Wish this light lights up your year too...:)

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  10. The 'light' of the year ...wonderfully said, Sunaina. We all have such closed chambers deep inside our hearts...we need to shine upon opening them.

    Happy new year... :-)

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    1. True Maniparna....hope some chambers open.....Wish you a Happy New Year too....

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  11. Beautiful thought, Sunaina. We need that light to keep the darkness away. Wishing you a delightful year ahead! :)

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    1. True Vinitha....let the light shine.....Wish you a great year ahead....

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  12. Thank you Sunaina for the wonderful intro:) I'll try to grab it at the soonest possible..

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  13. This was a beautiful post - thank you for the shoutout, and I am putting The Red Pencil on my to-read list.

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  14. Beautiful introduction to the book Sunaina. New Year brings in new possibilities. May we see things, with clarity in a new light. :-)

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  15. One of the best introductions...what a way to ring in the new year (full of positivity)!
    May the light guide us all!

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