Day 5 - 1 -- A Blank Page

2018 -- a new year filled with unknowns. Discussing this with friends today, it was agreed that most were ready for a new beginning; 2017 had been less than kind to many people. Yet, being human we do seem to focus on the negative. Media focus on the negative, so we often seem to be swimming in such stories. Finding the positives in a day then seems incongruous. We see such events as aberrations and give them less focus than they deserve. Such cognitive dissonance can lead us to dismiss positive events and stay focused on the negative stories.

The new year provides a clean slate -- a place where we can write our stories with the focus we choose. This doesn't mean unpleasant events can be ignored, but does suggest that we can balance those with the positives we encounter daily. I am a list maker. I keep track of the new things I experience each year. This blog helps me to explore and understand events of the days. Often, positive aspects can be found upon reflection. We can learn and grow from all encounters of life. We only have to take a moment to look at things from different angles. I hope this fifth year of the blog will help me move through the next year with a smile and deeper understanding of the world around me.

Given a calendar or journal with a full year of days lying ahead, there are many opportunities to find the positives, learn from them, and share or remind others that there are positives in the world. The lyrics of a song that fits these musings ran through my head tonight. It encourages positive actions with an invigorating melody and nurturing lyrics. Enjoy!

Unwritten -- Natasha Bedingfield