  Spiritual
This week: A Year's Lessons Edited by: Kit of House Lannister  
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What did you learn in 2012? Where are you headed in 2013?
Taking the time to reflect on a year's worth of events can be helpful, and set us on our future paths.
This week's Spiritual Newsletter is all about reflection.
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First of all, a very happy New Year! I hope that 2013 brings you everything you hope for.
I don’t know about anyone else, but a new year always causes me to look back at the previous year and all its ups and downs. It makes me think about how I have progressed, if I have progressed, because that way I can decide if there is anything I would like to do different in the future. It’s not a good idea to cling on to the past, but as everyone knows, we can learn from it.
Every experience helps us to grow, if we allow ourselves to. When something happens, I tend to analyse it afterwards and see if I could have done anything differently. Those are isolated incidents, though, and a look at an entire year can be helpful to see if I did do things differently, and if I did learn from what life’s thrown at me.
This year, I think I have. It has not been an easy year. I nearly lost my grandmother, my family saw a big fall-out, for part of the year I went through financial hardship and life, generally, was rather stressful. There were a few lighter moments – the birth of my niece on the 10th of December was one of them, as was my grandmother’s recovery. Both were true blessings.
I have had to be brave. That doesn't always come easily to me, as I have a history of anxiety attacks and have developed a tendency to avoid triggers. So going back to the Netherlands and meeting some family members for the first time was not as fun as it would have been for other people who are more sociable. I did struggle when there, which was disappointing, but I got through it anyway. That taught me that I have not yet fully recovered, but sometimes you have to do things that are difficult.
The family fall-out has taught me that I have to stand up for myself and what I believe in, even if that means that people turn their backs on me. In this incident I refused to choose between people I love, refused to be stuck in the middle. Sometimes people want you to choose sides, when you care about both parties involved. But this, then, can teach you how others truly see you, and how much they care about you in turn. It can be a tough lesson, yet valuable.
The financial situation has taught me to do a lot on very little, and it has certainly helped my cooking skills. I am glad that that situation got resolved, but it was a good reminder of “waste not, want not”.
Some say that everything we experience in our lives is for a reason. I sometimes struggle to see that. During the darkest time of my life I certainly did not see a reason or a purpose for what I was going through, even if I do admit that it taught me a lot and has changed who I am. But then I think what about people who suffer horrible illnesses? What about those who do not make it past childhood? I guess there are no answers to that…
I admire those who face great obstacles in life and come out stronger. I can understand why others become bitter and withdrawn. I think that if there is one lesson I have learned in the previous year it is that I cannot expect others to respond to situations the same way I would, because they have their own past to content with. And I cannot allow other people’s expectations of me to dictate my life.
This coming year I hope to move forward and become more sociable. I will have to keep working on the courage thing as well, because I have exams to sit for the first time in 20 years. The thought of it fills me with a significant amount of dread. And I want to get back to my writing. Yes, I have been slacking.
On the whole, I hope for a better year than the previous one. I reckon I am not alone in that.
What about you? What did you learn, and where do you want to go next?
kittiara
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Here are some of the latest offerings in the Spiritual genre. I hope you will enjoy them  .
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The Spiritual Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in!
Sheep  - This is a very rewarding piece of information, straight from the heart mind & soul. Too bad many of us don't think this way especially as your grandparents.They are truly remarkable, as you wrote about the simple things that this season brings,this should be away of life for all mankind.
Happy Holidays
Sheep
Thanks so much for your kind words, Sheep! I hope you had a lovely time during the Holidays .
~~~
alysia - Thank you so much for reminding me about the small things of the season. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas or any holiday, but feel left out. You can always give to those in need. What a great reminder that even if the holidays aren't what you think it should be, you can always make a difference in someone else's life.
Thank you so much. I did stop by the lady across the road and it was a good thing I did as she'd had a bad fall earlier that day. Luckily, she is alright and it was nice to spend time in her company. It was good for me, too. .
~~~
Quick-Quill  - Giving of your time or "talent" has its own rewards. Your grandparents have found that to be true. The love and appreciation they receive blesses them far more than the aches and pains they feel. We were made to have these feelings. If one does not, it is because they are not in the service of others. The words "It is more blessed to give than receive" is not a suggestion, it is a mandate. If it is reading to children, assisting anywhere a person finds a place, there is a reward of well being. UNLESS it is done as an ego booster and that is an entirely different sermon. Merry Christmas.
I fully agree with you! The time spent with others, helping others, making life a bit easier for others has great rewards for ourselves. We are indeed made to have those feelings - a sense of peace, contentment, warmth. It helps us to live, not merely exist.
~~~
Steve adding writing to ntbk.  - Merry Christmas. The ones I reviewed in this newsletter know you featured them here.
Copenator out!
Thank you, Copenator! You can always be counted on, and I appreciate that .
~~~
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Spiritual Newsletter Team
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Spiritual: January 01, 2013 Issue [#5446]
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