Letters: Go and make someone else miserable!

The year 2016 has already passed by, more than a month ago!! My letter aims to give some down-to-earth “advice” to folk who are still living in the past. 2017 is not new born – it has passed the neonatal period and before you know it we will be into the next Christmas and New Year celebrations – Lord help us all!
How many resolutions have already been broken, especially the most common ones – losing weight, eating healthy, avoiding alcohol etc. These lovely virtuous feelings have been replaced with slightly shame-faced feelings of profound guilt. Do not worry, this is an annual occurrence in all our lives!
Please forgive yourselves for unrealistic ambitions and move on with a positive approach to the future. “Even this shall shall pass away” – so said poet Theodore Tilton – and he was absolutely right.
These feelings of guilt that often stifle many of us throughout the year are often directly related to our interactions with other human beings, including our own families. This is the time to “clean our houses” mentally of all useless baggage with which have been burdening our already overtaxed minds.
Let us cultivate friendships that are positive and optimistic. This applies to relatives as well. Forgive them and let them go make someone else miserable! Everyone knows the type I am referring to. They are toxic, narcissistic, “the downers”, the judgemental types, the dream killers reeking with negativity! The insincere type, the disrespectful and many more.
We all have such folk in our lives. Then there are those who never have enough of you and take you for granted. They fault you at every turn and are never happy for you. They require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out with your own needs sacrificed. All this is depressing!
Well this is Year 2017 – a year in our beloved country reeking with so many uncertainties: dire poverty, lack of decent homes for the poor and destitute, corruption of enormous proportions, unemployment to an enormous degree, violence and crime to the Nth degree. I just need to stop as it becomes so depressing. Sorry – I forgot about the Nkandla debacle! I could go on but space prevents me.
Well, out with the bad and let us embrace 2017 with new hopes, dreams, aspirations and expectations. 2017 is still new and life is too short to spend time dealing with toxicity. Cut ties with toxic people. Be with people who make you feel loved, appreciated and spiritually uplifted.
Each individual has a great power within – the greatest gift of the Divine Creator – the gift of choice. Make that choice while this year is still new and young, and the rest of 2017 will be happy despite pitfalls and problems that may occur. Let us lose all negativity this year and rather tread the path of positivity for the rest of the year. Maybe we won’t have to “Cry the Beloved Country of S. Africa”.
Om Shanti – Peace to all.
DR THIRU MOODLEY
Ballito