New Year augurs harmony

The Year of Change!:

By Samangie WETTIMUNY

New Year” has always been a favourite theme for writers, journalists and poets. If you browse the Net, you will find over thousands of utterances made by eminent people on the subject. Will you agree with the famous quote of English writer Charles Lamb where he stated that ‘New Year’ is everyone’s birth day.?”

As Charles Dickens says “The New year like an ‘Infant Heir’ to the whole world, was waited for, with welcome, presents and rejoicings as well.”

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language!

And next year’s words await another voice.

“And to make an end is to make a beginning,”

is how well-known poet T.S.Eliot saw the importance of New Year.

You can interpret the importance of the New Year in your own way. You may get several telephone calls , so many e-cards, several other cards and all would certainly carry one common wish-. “Happy New Year.” It is the day everyone ‘remembers’ you. Hence it is quite irrelevant to question as to why they remember you, Is it due to genuine friendship, for your unassuming personality or for your social status? But here in Sri Lanka we all have one common reason to rejoice. During the past thirty years Sri Lankans have been wishing one aother on January 1st, exchanging cards for Sinhala and Hindu New Year, but almost all had an ‘unexpressed fear’ over ‘an uncertain future.’ With the complete eradication of terrorism which had claimed millions of lives on this island nation , today we feel more secure. Year 2010 being the first New Year after the end of war, is indeed the time of celebration.

‘Now only I fully understand what a lot freedom means to a person.” 24- Year old Nuwangi who was doing shopping in one of the major shopping malls in Colombo tells me. “All these years I saw fear in my mother’s eyes whenever I was ready to go out. We had to limit our outings due to the fear of bomb explosions. Now we all can live happily in a united country.” She beamed.

The story is not hers alone. It is of course the story of each and every Sri Lankan. It is also the story of each boy and girl who was born during the past thirty years. Sacrifices were made by brave soldiers , and the achievement is shared by all of us. So it should be the utmost responsibility of each and every Sri Lankan to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for the sake of this ‘unsurpassed humanitarian operation’!

New Year resolutions

As “well-known trainer and Consultant (Skills Development and Leadership Training) Chandana Gunawardena, says January first is the best day for everyone to make new resolutions.

“It has been a practice over the years to celebrate the dawn of New Year on a grand scale. This is the best time of the year to make new resolutions. First you should make a wish to shed self-built barriers which have obstructed your path of success. Then you can cultivate new habits that would make a positive impact on you.

Secondly you should try to develop your ‘positive habits.’ For example, you may already have some good habits. You have to develop them further. You should try to improve your public relations. In many European countries there is hardly anyone who does not receive a gift on January 1st. Some even have the habit of leaving gifts at the doorstep of poor people’s houses in the night, so that the inmates can have a pleasant surprise the following morning when they open the door! As Gunawardena further said we should have at least one major goal in our mind as we step into new year. “You can have a target to increase your monthly income by next December. In addition to your present job you can think of an alternative source of income . For example, you can start a home garden , so that you need not spend money on vegetables and fruits. That itself is a saving! If you are creative enough you can start writing a book. You should be able to harness your potential in the interest of your family.

“Then take necessary steps to add more assets to what you already have. For example if you do not have a vehicle and if you aspire to have one, work for it. If your necessity is to buy a new piece of land, take necessary steps to achieve it.” As he noted thirdly, it is important to enhance your knowledge.

Education is a life-long process. If you are a graduate you can pursue your post-graduate studies. You can have an indepth study of religions, if you wish to promote your spirituality. “Many elders are reluctant to acquire IT skills. It seems that they have a preconceived notion which has affected them negatively. Mind you, all these barriers are mind-made.” It is at a very later stage of his life that Most Ven. Late Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thero acquired his computer skills and he could make the full use of modern technology.” “Last but not least you should add more to your repertoire of values.

That should be your solemn wish on December 31. If you are a heavy smoker or an alcoholic, try to get rid of these bad habits at least by next year.” Majority of the people await the New Year with much expectations and aspirations. But the problem with most of them is they tend to ‘forget’ what their goals and objectives are in the course of the year.

“That is why you should keep a record of your Vision - Targets and Expectations. If it is ‘family vision’ you can display it either in your dining room or in any place where you normally get together to have family discussions. If it is your “Personal Vision’, it is better to keep it with you safely, preferably inside your diary!