When the end of the year is the end… A tale

What would happen if this year was the last year of my life?

A retired man decided to think like that for the whole year, since January, 1^st; every act, every word and even every thought had the energy of this is the end.

Every time he went for shopping or just for a walk, that thought was present: what would happen…

Gradually, his behavior changed according to his thoughts and he started to buy less and less. He also stopped wasting his time and he endeavor for EVERY SECOND of his life to be useful.

He started to talk with people he didn’t hear for years and he forgave… Oh, he forgave so many people!

He also asked forgiveness and appreciated others much more. He started to open his hearts to others, greeting acquaintances and smiling to unknown people.

By the end of the year, he realized he was having the best time of his life. He felt so light and yet so confident… He even studied something, even though he thought he couldn’t learn anything anymore!

When the year came to an end – and he noticed his life will continue – he reflected while looking at a beautiful starred sky.

What would happen if this year was the last year of my life?

And a new year started for him!

Is it Christmas yet? A tale…

“Is it Christmas yet?”

The blond nurse looked at the little boy with a smile.

“Not yet, but it will be Christmas very soon.”

“Thank you…” a faint sound came out from his mouth.

He loved Christmas as it was the day his family would come to visit him. It is not they didn’t visit at other dates – there were always someone around him – but for Christmas as a tradition the whole family would come.

They wouldn’t bring big packages with them, the nurses wouldn’t allow them, but his mother would show him a picture of his room: there were always HUGE PACKAGES, even a private Christmas tree…

He wondered again if he would see his room one day…

Late that night, a big man came. It was his first time around and it seemed to him he was mopping the floor, as he was almost lying down on the floor. Sleep didn’t come easy for him or most of the patients there.

“What are you doing?” he whispered.

The big man heard and froze in the act. Slowly, he stood up and then he could see the big man WHO HAD A WHITE BEARD, A RED UNIFORM… SANTA CLAUS!!

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“Shouldn’t you be preparing for Christmas?”

Both laughed and they talked for quite a while – it seems one of the nurses missed their shift again – until the little boy fell asleep.

Next day, he woke up with his family all over him; the best of day of the year has come! They talked and talked until he mentioned his close encounter with Santa Claus. Immediately his siblings mocked him.

After a very hot argument, he said he left him a gift.

“There are no gifts except the ones we brought.” his father spoke with some amusement.

“It is there! Look under my bed!”

Trying to end this argument, the man went to look and…

…came out with a beautiful package!

The boy wouldn’t be able to lift the package, so along with his elder sister, they opened it: a beautiful skateboard!

“That is what I always wanted!”

And every year, for a long time, there was always a package under the bed… From whom? The mystery remains, but the question “Is it Christmas yet?” was always followed by “Can you check under my bed?”

Almost there… the end of the year!

Before coming to the end of the year, what about stop and reflect a bit about what is going on…

A few points may help you with that:

If this year would be my last year on Earth, what am I taking with me?

If this year would be my first year on Earth, what have I learnt that was completely new?

Think of the memories I am carrying with myself…

Think of the memories I am definitely not carrying, and how am I going to dispose those?

What has been the main development in the self – a quality, an inner power, a talent – that will be very useful for next year?

What has been the main realization I had and how to keep on living that realization next year?

Who was the person I was able to have a powerful conversation and with which results?

Who was the person I could not have a powerful conversation and how to do it next year?

If I could come back from twenty years ahead and could give an advice to my present self, which advice will it be?

If I could travel back several years before and could give an advice to the then present self, which advice will be?

King or pawn?

If your life was a big game of chess, which position would you take?

I think at least in the level of perception, we all have thought of ourselves as kings of our own game… or pawns, at times.

When you are a king, you have power and so many people protect you, they are ready to leave the game if that is the case.

When you are a pawn, on the other hand, you are basically fodder for the cannon. You are made to die!

However, let’s think deeply… after all, the king can also be defeated and if this game is between me and, well, me, then who is the winner and who is the loser? On the other hand, the pawns are amazing in the game as they are the first ones to start and they are very courageous.

In reality, if you feel you are in a human chess game, even when you are the pawn – things are going wrong, you feel you are not supported, etc. – you can still let your courage and heart guide you.