“Uushaavandana” by Kālidāsa
Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence;
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And Tomorrow is only a Vision;
But Today well lived makes every
Yesterday a Dream of Happiness, and every
Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn.
Every new year, I return to Kālidāsa’s poem as a reminder to savor ordinary moments because they quickly accumulate into a lifetime. In a blink, actually – just as I was heating soup, or tying my shoes. or working up my courage….
Often it seems like the future simply happens to us, and it’s true that much is beyond our control. However, being present in the day rather than just doing stuff during the day can be fueled in a variety of ways.
I look back to the prior year and consider the activities or events that made a significant impact on who I am now. Then I consider what I might do or engage in to help future-me feel more fulfilled. Each season of our lives brings different needs and desires, specific people we spend time with or wish we could, places we went and wish to go. Taking stock at the new year offers a way to consider the tone and intention for both starting and ending each day. We can also consider the small replenishing moments that can be sprinkled in throughout the day to avoid complete depletion. These could be contemplative practices like meditation, pranayama or prayer; they might involve movement like a meditative walk or a quick 5-minute cardio boost; or they could be social, such as visiting a friend. Whatever it is that keeps you steady and energized.
May the daily plans you sow with care and intention bloom into a year filled with growth, splendor, happiness, and hope. OM Shanti