Leaving behind an old year and entering the next is a 3-step process at our house.
- Thank God for every blessing received in the past year.
- Bury the things that need left behind.
- Dream big about what is ahead.
Each New Year’s Eve, just after sunset, we focus on burying the things we need to leave behind. It is a tradition that started on a particularly tough year at our house, but has continued in better times. Part of growing is knowing when it is time to leave something behind.
Because I got to author this ritual, it needed to include a feel for days of glory and a flair for the dramatic, but allow me to keep my thoughts private.
Here is our ritual:
- I build a very crude funeral pyre (not as cool as the one shown above)
- Everyone writes down on paper those things to leave behind
- Set the papers on the pyre
- At 6:00pm, push the pyre out into the pool and light it on fire
- Reflect prayerfully as the flames consume the past
- Stay, leave or do whatever you want. It takes 10 minutes.
If you would like to come, just let me know to expect you. Bring your own sheet already written out, or come early enough to put it together.
Hope to see you there!
If you need my address, it is:
3252 Paddock Circle, Flower Mound