January 1, 2021 • 8 mins
This will be a really short chat; I didn’t plan on doing an episode for a couple of weeks, but this thought popped up and I wanted to share it. This will be short, but hopefully, you will find something in it that might help. The big theme of my New Year’s Message…YOU MADE IT!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Bruce (00:35):
Welcome to Don't Forget to Breathe.
I'm your host, Bruce Barker.
This is episode six, and I callit a New Year's Message.
This will be a really shortchat.
I didn't plan on doing anepisode for a couple of weeks,
but this thought popped up and Iwanted to share it.
This will be short, buthopefully you'll find something
(00:58):
in it that might help.
You know, for many of you andmaybe most of us, a multitude of
thoughts and ideas seem to comewhen I'm in the shower.
I'm not sure if it's themetaphorical vision of water
streaming at and over me, maybethe cleansing that takes place,
(01:21):
or just the private time.
Standing there in your originalbirthday outfit, nothing to
come between you and the water,nothing to hide behind.
I'm not sure.
But a few minutes ago, Istepped into the shower to clean
up from yet another of myself-provided COVID haircuts, a
(01:42):
staple for me in 2020.
And there was a flood ofthoughts and emotions that was
just pouring over me.
And I wanted to share some ofthose with you.
And here's the big theme of myNew Year's message.
You made it.
(02:03):
Simple as that.
You made it.
You know, 2020 was anincredibly challenging year for
most Americans.
In fact, most global citizens,I don't need to remind anyone of
the expansive hardships peoplefaced depending on their
particular circumstances andsituations.
(02:24):
But for those who survived thedeath of a loved one in 2020, it
was the ultimate punch in thegut.
But while your grief is freshand very difficult, here you are
in 2021.
You made it.
It might not feel like much ofa positive moment or a victory,
(02:48):
but you are here.
You made it.
For those of us who have lostchildren, you know, be it just
two years ago or two decadesago, you still had your dread
and anxiety when thinking aboutbirthdays, holidays,
anniversaries, all those specialevents in 2020.
(03:10):
And yet, it's New Year's Day,2021, and you survived.
You are here, you made it.
New Year's Eve, it's alwaysbeen my favorite special event.
For me, it was a time I setaside to personally look back at
(03:32):
the previous year, to all theblessings and successes, to
memories of special times,experiences, and moments to
cherish.
It was also a time to look backat my failures,
disappointments, and the times Imay have let people down or
treated someone poorly, or justwhen I was an ass.
(03:55):
Then, after my reflections, Ilooked ahead to limitless
possibilities the new year couldoffer.
What I wanted to do, what Ineeded to do, and what I needed
to correct.
It was a blank canvas, and forthe most part, I had the brush.
(04:16):
That became more of achallenging time after I lost my
daughter, but the overall timeof reflection and forecasting,
it was still there, though maybeit was a bit more cloudy.
So as I watched a broadcast ofthe New Year's Eve event from
Times Square last night, Ithought back to my time when I
(04:40):
worked in Times Square in 1999,and the very fortunate moment I
had standing at 43rd inBroadway, looking straight up at
the ball as it dropped to ringin the year 2000.
I bring that up to say thatbeing there that night was such
(05:01):
an iconic moment of myreflection and forecast, but
that I could not have possiblypredicted what I would
experience in the twenty-oneyears since that night.
The highest of highs and thelowest of lows, all woven
together into a complex tapestrythat shows the past two decades
(05:28):
all too well on my face, in mybody, in my mind, and in my very
soul.
But here I am, January 1st,2021.
I'm alive.
I'm living a very blessed life,and I'm talking to you.
(05:48):
How is that possible?
It's possible because we madeit.
You're here, I'm here.
We made it.
So what does 2021 have in storefor us?
How will we navigate our grief?
How will we navigate our joy?
How will you paint your blankcanvas?
(06:12):
Well, I'll do my best, Bob Rossimpersonation, and say, Let's
start by putting a happy littlesky up here.
Just let your brush bouncearound and play.
Maybe there's a little treethat lives up on the hill.
Just just basic shapes.
(06:34):
Still not looking for a lot ofdetail.
Just very basic shapes.
So the bottom line, I know thatwas a really bad impression,
but still.
So the bottom line is that youhave the brush.
And you have to startsomewhere.
So you might as well start witha happy little sky.
(06:58):
That's it for now.
I said it would be short.
Welcome to Don't Forget to Breathe.
I'm your host, Bruce Barker.
This is episode six, and I callit a New Year's Message.
This will be a really shortchat.
I didn't plan on doing anepisode for a couple of weeks,
but this thought popped up and Iwanted to share it.
This will be short, buthopefully you'll find something
(00:58):
in it that might help.
You know, for many of you andmaybe most of us, a multitude of
thoughts and ideas seem to comewhen I'm in the shower.
I'm not sure if it's themetaphorical vision of water
streaming at and over me, maybethe cleansing that takes place,
(01:21):
or just the private time.
Standing there in your originalbirthday outfit, nothing to
come between you and the water,nothing to hide behind.
I'm not sure.
But a few minutes ago, Istepped into the shower to clean
up from yet another of myself-provided COVID haircuts, a
(01:42):
staple for me in 2020.
And there was a flood ofthoughts and emotions that was
just pouring over me.
And I wanted to share some ofthose with you.
And here's the big theme of myNew Year's message.
You made it.
(02:03):
Simple as that.
You made it.
You know, 2020 was anincredibly challenging year for
most Americans.
In fact, most global citizens,I don't need to remind anyone of
the expansive hardships peoplefaced depending on their
particular circumstances andsituations.
(02:24):
But for those who survived thedeath of a loved one in 2020, it
was the ultimate punch in thegut.
But while your grief is freshand very difficult, here you are
in 2021.
You made it.
It might not feel like much ofa positive moment or a victory,
(02:48):
but you are here.
You made it.
For those of us who have lostchildren, you know, be it just
two years ago or two decadesago, you still had your dread
and anxiety when thinking aboutbirthdays, holidays,
anniversaries, all those specialevents in 2020.
(03:10):
And yet, it's New Year's Day,2021, and you survived.
You are here, you made it.
New Year's Eve, it's alwaysbeen my favorite special event.
For me, it was a time I setaside to personally look back at
(03:32):
the previous year, to all theblessings and successes, to
memories of special times,experiences, and moments to
cherish.
It was also a time to look backat my failures,
disappointments, and the times Imay have let people down or
treated someone poorly, or justwhen I was an ass.
(03:55):
Then, after my reflections, Ilooked ahead to limitless
possibilities the new year couldoffer.
What I wanted to do, what Ineeded to do, and what I needed
to correct.
It was a blank canvas, and forthe most part, I had the brush.
(04:16):
That became more of achallenging time after I lost my
daughter, but the overall timeof reflection and forecasting,
it was still there, though maybeit was a bit more cloudy.
So as I watched a broadcast ofthe New Year's Eve event from
Times Square last night, Ithought back to my time when I
(04:40):
worked in Times Square in 1999,and the very fortunate moment I
had standing at 43rd inBroadway, looking straight up at
the ball as it dropped to ringin the year 2000.
I bring that up to say thatbeing there that night was such
(05:01):
an iconic moment of myreflection and forecast, but
that I could not have possiblypredicted what I would
experience in the twenty-oneyears since that night.
The highest of highs and thelowest of lows, all woven
together into a complex tapestrythat shows the past two decades
(05:28):
all too well on my face, in mybody, in my mind, and in my very
soul.
But here I am, January 1st,2021.
I'm alive.
I'm living a very blessed life,and I'm talking to you.
(05:48):
How is that possible?
It's possible because we madeit.
You're here, I'm here.
We made it.
So what does 2021 have in storefor us?
How will we navigate our grief?
How will we navigate our joy?
How will you paint your blankcanvas?
(06:12):
Well, I'll do my best, Bob Rossimpersonation, and say, Let's
start by putting a happy littlesky up here.
Just let your brush bouncearound and play.
Maybe there's a little treethat lives up on the hill.
Just just basic shapes.
(06:34):
Still not looking for a lot ofdetail.
Just very basic shapes.
So the bottom line, I know thatwas a really bad impression,
but still.
So the bottom line is that youhave the brush.
And you have to startsomewhere.
So you might as well start witha happy little sky.
(06:58):
That's it for now.
I said it would be short.
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