A New Moon

It takes one month for the moon to circle the earth. In that time it will go from full to empty and back again. So many things in our life are based on cycles, in particular lunar cycles. There are several countries/religions who use a lunar calendar as opposed to the typical Gregorian calendar that most of us are used to.

The new moon brings with it the promise of a new beginning. Just as in our lives, it is a fresh start, another chance, a time to do it all over again. While a lunar phase is only one month long, the phases and cycles of our lives generally last quite a bit longer.

This year, a new moon falls on the first day of the new year. When I heard this, it gave me pause to reflect. A new year....a new moon? For those of us who set New Year's Resolutions, a year can be a tough challenge, but....a month? A month can be pretty "doable". Think about it like this:

Now think about the way we treat the New Year. We tend to make the most common of the new beginnings into the "end all, be all" time to change our lives. We often put so much hope and promise into a new year that we may set ourselves up for a disappointment. Maybe we should look at the progress of a new baby who is constantly growing and developing. Or, we can observe many coorporate goals. They have yearly goals set but coach their associates to meet daily goals, then weekly, followed by monthly goals. If each smaller goal is met, it stands to reason that the yearly goal will be met. But, if one or two daily goals aren't met, you still have the next day to make it up. By keeping track of your progress in short-term goals, you can pretty much ensure the long-term outcome!

Think about all the things we measure in monthly increments:

• Pregnancy
• School calendars
• Baby's first few years
• Rent or Mortgage
• Billing cycles
• Menstrual periods
• Salaries
• Magazine subscriptions
• Weight loss
• Sales goals

And the list goes on...

How lovely would it be to have a jar handy, where you can jot down accomplishmenrt, sayings or simple little things that make you happy? Think about opening and reading a years worth of those memories on New Years Eve. How much fun would that be? To make your own memory jar, please check out my hub, How to Create a Baby's First Year Memory Jar.

Lunar phases are the illuminated parts of the moon that we see as it orbits the earth.

For the first time in nineteen years a New Moon falls on the first day of the New Year. A new moon sifgnifies fresh, new beginnings as well as new opportunities.

Anyone who is familiar with me knows how much I love new beginnings. Whether it is a birthday, a new job, a new relationship or a new home. Each is an opportunity to start fresh. The most common of the new beginnings is the New Year. We often put so much hope and promise into a new year that we may set ourselves up for a disappointment. New Years Eve will arrive quietly at my house, this year with minimum fanfare, no fireworks or wild parties! Yet, I will still be making goals and challenging myself. While they will continue to be my own, personal resolutions indigenous to me and me alone, this year I will break them down into smaller increments. I will try to make attainable, measurable goals where I can see the progress as I go. It will be another chance to do it all over again, hopefully a little better, a little more "right". I look forward to and embrace this new year, in all it's glory and all it's promise. We are perched on the precipice, on the brink of a new year! And it is a very exciting place to be!