I was thinking – why do we tend to wish to erase and forget the year that passed? Why do we say things like: thank god the year is over? Even worse, why do we tend to only remember the tough times and totally dismissing the good ones as if they never happened? Wait, are we doing this with everything? And are we purposely claiming misery?

Sadly, according to my observations, YES, that’s exactly describing the majority of people. With no intention to generalize or make grand statements, please allow me to explore this thought. Admitting that once upon a time I too, fell into that trap. Perhaps still do occasionally. Yet I am quiet conscious when it happens and quickly shift my thinking. 

Indeed, we seem to be wired that way. To think negatively of our experiences and circumstances. To claim sickness, misery and misfortune. Not realizing, the words we speak are shaping our reality. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we are intentionally creating a sad narrative for public views or believing our stories. How creative we become when we want to portray the absolute misery we are experiencing. Deserving of an Oscar at times. 

The question remains .. why? I have been told it’s for protection from the evil eye. Apparently, if you exaggerate your misfortune, people have nothing to envy you for. Interesting!

So here we are, every time someone is asking about our life and well being, we respond by listing all the things that went wrong and woe is me. No wonder by the end of the year we are convinced of our misfortune and terrible life we had, looking forward to a brand new year with a fresh start where we continue the same tradition of claiming misery to protect ourselves from the evil eye. So that by the end of the new year, we talk about how much we hated that year that was full of hardships and challenges. And the cycle repeats. 

Sad .. very sad. Yet people are actually doing this. So unconsciously done that if you catch them in the act, they will deny it and call you crazy. 

Then of course you have those who are so negative for real that they forget the good stuff so easily while being stuck in the bad. They are the ones constantly complaining about the glass half empty. They only see the half that’s empty. No winder by the end of the year, they are wishing to put an end to their misery of living their life with half empty glasses. Looking forward to a fresh start where miraculously the glass will be full and all will be well in the world. While doing the same things they did the year before. And the cycle repeats. 

On a positive note, there will be those people who will recognize that life is a mix of good times and bad. They accept them both for what they are. They make the effort to change what they can and accept the things they know is out of their control. They are expressing gratitude for all experiences. With the knowing that they learned important lessons along the journey. Knowing that learning never ends. That this year or the following years to come, however long they are meant to live, they will do so fully. Perhaps tweaking a few habits in hopes of different results. Doing the best they can and allowing things to flow as they are meant to. 

That’s the story. The story of the evil eye made me do it. The story of I don’t see the good – where is it? It’s the story of different people thinking and behaving differently. Naturally, with different outcomes. Which group are you resonating with? Be honest with yourself. This is not about scolding you or for you to feel bad or sorry for yourself. Then you would be missing the point. This is about you becoming self-aware. It’s about giving you a chance to self-reflect. Perhaps it’s time to do things differently. And perhaps you are just where you are on your journey. As always, I say, YOU CHOOSE.