Tide of Change...
2021 - Tide of Change...
Much like my beloved Exmouth beach, where the tide comes in and out twice a day, leaving the sand smooth and unfettered - each day is a blank canvas - we have a fresh chance to choose the foot prints we make, follow, leave...
What does New Year mean to you, and how can we
perceive the opportunities it may promise?
I have created a cat headdress, painted my teeth black and donned feet
crippling platform boots (see the ABBA tribute pic below) - all part of
dressing up for the great Exmouth town New Year’s Eve carnival night. Not all
the same costume of course - but a series of outfits and memories made for the
annual evening when strangers mask up as something other than themselves and
converse with ease with others, such as Paddington Bear, pencils (yes!),
burlesque dancers, cowboys and cats.
It is my favourite night of the year and there is usually a tear at midnight
(much like tonight's TIER 3), plus an occasional hug from Willy Wonka
or one of his his Oompa Loompa entourage - or a redundant Santa.
All over the world we celebrate differently, whether it be resolutions
or seeing in the New Year minute-by-minute: The UK loves to sing it in
with Auld Lang Syne; New York countdown live on television,
kissing at midnight, champagne toasts - fireworks; Oshogatsu is
celebrated in Japan where family clean together (along with South Africa
and Puerto Rico) and decorate with pine branches and plum blossoms.
There are a plethora of odd traditions too - Google them for yourself - but
I'll share one from Spain, who set a challenge in speed-eating, which
requires people down 12 grapes at midnight before the clock chimes 12.
There is however, one common thread throughout all of these customs: looking
forward with hope.
And it certainly has been a year of new things - including the morning
motivational and supportive meet ups with the SW Empowerment group -
thanks to one and all for your awesome friendship, advice and support, without
which life would have been a whole lot lonelier. Thanks again to the people who
have come to the many online classes and workshops. It has been a total
pleasure meeting you all from Limerick, London, San Francisco, Bristol,
Nottingham, and of course Exmouth and more!
New Year, for me is special because it is full of memories - not all
brilliant but then that’s life. Thank goodness for Jules Holland on New Years
Eve - my go to entertainment when New Year celebrations end earlier than
expected. I won’t be a practicing dancing queen tonight but I will raise a
glass to all of you lovely people. One thing for sure this year is the promise
of that little number 1 on the end of 2020 offers hope of an auspicious new
chapter of what can only be described as cockadoodiedirtybirdie - misery
(see what I did there!)
I look forward to seeing some of you back at my
classes in next year with, no doubt lots of new faces of people who want to
bring a bigger dose of humour into their lives - jeeps we need it!
Have a safe New Year's Eve. May we meet and greet each other in 2021 at some
point, unmasked and open. Me and the awesome comedy matters team
will catch you on the flip side (and the flop for those interested
in clowning and comedy).
I will leave you with this meme I found - speaks volumes for a better
year ahead:
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