A Sunday Beginning

In Korea, instead of staying up late
on the last night of the old year, 

we woke up early the following day,

hiked a mountain in the cold, biting darkness of morning,

and waited for the first sunrise. 

Both years I lived there, I watched the year begin
with the warmth and light of the sun.

My soul felt hopeful and peaceful.

I was surrounded by beaufitul people I loved.

And we ate dokguk afterward, in order
to add another year to our ages.

This morning, I followed the tradition again.

The sun rose, as expected.



I said goodbye to 2011.

Veins of the past run through who I am today.

But today is what matters.

I want to embrace 2012 with expectation and ambition.

The sun is rising on a new chapter of life

and amazing things are about to happen.

I've spent a considerable amount of time looking back,

pensively considering and reconsidering what has happened.

Now, I turn my face toward the new sun and the new year

and each new day.

No more analyzing where I was;

I'm ready to fly forward and create the life I imagine.

Does this sound ooey-gooey cheesy to anyone else?

It doesn't matter, I'm on my way.

I'm happy to start anew.

May you receive many blessings this new year.