Bodacious Boomer

My 2009 sucked the big Wahoo. It was one of the worst years that I can recall. However, I’m looking forward to better things in 2010; and because of that, I’m embracing Good Riddance Day. Today is that day. Today is the 3rd annual GRD. This is the day on which luck-strapped individuals are encouraged to rid themselves of the ending year’s setbacks and prepare for the future.

Folks who are attending this free event in NYC are encouraged to fill out forms that have “I want to say good riddance to:  then they fill in whatever their personal albatross this past year happened to be.

Once the forms are filled out they are shredded on the spot. People also were encouraged to shred photos of ex’s, pink-slips, disturbing newspaper articles- just about anything that held them back or upset them this past year. The organizers of the event believe that the way to ensure success in the new year is to get rid of all the old things that have been holding you back. Some people even shredded their old credit card bills.

One woman wrote three words-resentment, procrastination, and fear on three pieces of red construction paper. Into the shredded they went. She said she’s going to replace them with power, action and faith. There was a dumpster on site for bigger items people wanted to rid themselves of. There was even a sledge hammer available for people who had really big things (non-animate), that they wanted to be rid of.

When I read about Good Riddance Day this morning, it reminded me of something I’d heard of awhile back. It’s called the Burning Bowl Ceremony. The basic tenants are the same. However, in this ceremony, you not only burn a paper that listed things that held you back, you list your aspirations for the coming year on a paper. That paper is put into a self-addressed envelope and mailed to you one year later.

So this is the the day. Grab ahold and say goodbye to bad karma. Dump the BS that’s been holding you back. Write it all down on a piece of paper and shred it, burn it, pee it on. Banish it. Have an exorcism. Do whatever works for you. Just don’t bring all that crap into the new year with you. Pretend that you’re flying somewhere and you just can’t take all the stuff. You could even write your problems on a helium balloon and let it go. (I know ecologically that’s not the best, but I’m thinking of YOU now).

I have to decide on just what method I’m going to use; but believe me, this is one thing I’m doing.