As I look at the coming year, I’m experiencing a sense of anticipation and curiosity.  What will 2010 be like?  What will remain consistent?  What things will change? What things do I wish for?  What do I intend to do?  How do I work with these questions from a place of spirit?  I’ve decided to look at these questions with anticipation, hope, and intention.

 

What Do I Anticipate?

            As a Zen practitioner, I know the one thing I can anticipate is that things will change.  Even so, I know there are some things that, on the surface, will likely create a framework of consistency in my life.  I have friends who care about me, a husband who loves me, a budding meditation group, and a delightful book club.  Although all these things will change in some way or other, I anticipate that they will provide, on the whole, comfort, happiness and nurturing.  Although I have great hope that these relationships will continue, I also know there is always the possibility that new people will show up, and some relationships may not go so well.  But each time I am with these people, I anticipate that I will treasure their participation in my life, through ups and downs, differences and celebrations.  Every single aspect of my life is in constant flux, since I live in and through a creative process, every moment, and yet I try to flow with those changes rather than fear them or hold on to “what is.”  I anticipate that I will continue to acknowledge impermanence within each precious moment, as well as I can.

 

What do I Hope?

            For one thing, I hope my anticipations are reasonable!  There are a number of things I hope for.  In a sense I could call my hopes “desires,” which I try not to overdo from a spiritual perspective, because desire can cause suffering.  At the same time, however, experiencing hope is human, and when I paradoxically hold my hopes with lightness and commitment, I can truly understand and appreciate them.  So what are my hopes?  I pray for the “health and wellbeing” of those around me.  I love this phrase, which appears in Zen dedications, because even if people may not have good health, they can still experience well-being.  When they seem to be beyond wellbeing, then it’s up to me to let go of my desire and hope that they will be any different than they are.  If I hold on to hope, wanting them to change, I will suffer, and they will likely suffer too.  I can also hope for peace in the world. My hope for peace is not about a world without war, because I don’t know that this is possible, but that within war and conflict, people can find moments of peace, solace and even joy.

 

What is My Intention?

            When anticipation and hope are alive, they can be transformed by crafting them into intention.  Intention is my effort to realize my anticipation and hope in the world.  My intention is to nurture peace and well-being in my relationships with those I love, and with those with whom I have contact.  I will be caring to my loving husband, my family and friends, and I will be friendly to the cashier in the grocery store, the tree pruner and the mail person.  When others are suffering throughout the world, I can offer prayer each day with my meditation, since they are never alone; in my own small way, I offer them love, comfort and awareness.

 

            What do you anticipate, hope for and carry as intentions for 2010?  Maybe we can join our intentions in a dedicated stream of caring, wellbeing and compassion.