New Year, New Life

Each second, minute, hour, day, month and year that passes represents an opportunity to embrace what is and what will be. I’m not immune to having struggles to instantly adapt or let go of what was. In many ways, our mindset either helps or hinders our ability to adopt or resist these changes.

This became evident again when I recently upgraded from a Windows 10 computer that I’ve been using since 2012 while adapting to the new hardware and Windows 11. There are many welcome changes though some changes seem like one or more or step backwards.

Learning new things is key to keeping the mind from entering a state of atrophy no matter what your age. Once upon a time, the human brain was thought to be fixed. We know better than that today and that the brain is under constant change like so many things in our lives.

You can get excited in the present about the future. The past won’t mind. —Hillary DePiano

Perhaps this new year, more people will be able let go of the obsolete paradigm of left and right brain hemisphere functions. The bodies of human beings were designed for redundancy and resilience. The human brain is capable of the amazing feat of neuroplasticity and each hemisphere can be thought of as a redundant backup for the other. What one hemisphere does so can the other one.

The hemispheres are synchronized by the corpus callosum. Even when one hemisphere has been removed, the other can even become as capable as before when given sufficient time and support. The redundancy afforded by the other hemisphere though is a one time only situation. Having such redundant organs in the body is more common than it’s not. Having all your parts is ideal but many impressively do without.

People who have had a hemispherectomy can still live full and independent lives. These individuals are often not any less intelligent than someone with two hemispheres. Unless they told you, you might not even realize what’s going on inside their head. However, the ego is fond of such ignorant thoughts like “Anyone with half a brain can do that!” While humans may not be as physically resilient as animals that can regrow body parts, the human body is still more resilient than many may give it credit for.

Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable. —Mary Oliver

On the other hand, biological matter can be rather limiting. For example, the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system can’t be active simultaneously. For that which is incorporeal, this limitation doesn’t apply. However, this doesn't stop humans from applying their understanding of the corporeal to how the incorporeal works which can lead to mental rigidity. The reverse is also true as applying incorporeal flexibility to corporeal beings can lead to too much chaos in an ordered system. How does this play out in life? As a parent myself, here’s just one example.

New life is born every day. New Year’s Day is no exception. However, not all humans are born nurturers. This is equally true of both mothers and fathers. One’s biological makeup is irrelevant to the incorporeal needs of a child. The incorporeal masculine and feminine energies reside in us all. Feminine energy is a natural nurturer and intuitive healer. Both parents may choose to live in their masculine energy while at work because of job responsibilities and perceived societal expectations that aren’t necessarily their own.

When the parents get home, either may struggle to channel the feminine energy in their behaviors. They may also deny and repress one of these two energies. Not simply existing as an either/or being can be too much for some to handle. The most nurturing parent may often be the one who is most in touch with their feminine energy.

If neither are, the child suffers its complete absence. Why are two parents better than one? You know the answer already. Say it with me. Redundancy and resilience! The very same reason the human body has multiple organs of the same type.

The child needs to feel each of the energies whether from both parents or just one to be able to model them. It can be difficult for just one parent to be what a child needs at all times which is why having two parents to divide and conquer is a more ideal setup.

And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good. —John Steinbeck

Ignorance of the dynamic interplay of all this can lead to parents having failed to adequately recognize and prioritize beforehand the well-being of a child. I definitely admit to being unaware and unprepared in my younger years. One is pretty much guaranteed to screw up their kids in one or more ways because we’re all human after all. This can’t be helped but maybe someone can benefits from my mistakes.

When parents don’t make enough time for themselves to just be, they may think more than they feel. Thinking is masculine and emoting is feminine. Neither is superior or a form of weakness. All humans need both.

However, this is where the ignorance of the ego comes in to claim otherwise. Being unaware that this great deceiver is the false self; many believe its lies. The loving bond between parent and child isn't a given. I want to close by saying congratulations to all the new parents out there and welcome to the new lives that have only just begun.