New Year’s Eve.  Fireworks will light up the skies across the world tonight.  Exuberant celebration will abound. 

As a “Playa Girl”, I am struck by the Mexican tradition of Año Nuevo.  At the stroke of midnight 12 grapes are eaten, each representing a wish for the New Year.  Symbolically grapes have an incredible history.  Some traditions believe it is evidence of God’s kindness and a symbol of goodness of providence.  In Feng Shui, grapes symbolize abundance of material wealth, success and good luck and still others hold them as a promise of new life.

Another Mexican tradition involves decorating your home or wearing a garment of a certain color.  If you wear red underwear you will have good luck in love.  Something yellow, say a great pair of pants, for improved employment.  If you decorate or wear something white you will garner improved health, while the color green improves a financial condition.

The one symbol I like the best is if you hope for travel in the New Year, get out your luggage and take it for a walk around the block.

All of these customs serve as a reminder that hope is alive and well in each new year.  Growing up in America, our traditions mostly include New Year’s celebrations peppered with fireworks, parties, dancing, eating and drinking.  Although I have nothing against any of those things, a component which seems to be missing is that of family, respect, rejoicing and symbolism of the newness the turning of the clock represents.

One of the most poignant traditions in Mexico is, before midnight; make a list of all the bad or unhappy events from the current year.  At midnight this list is thrown into a fire, symbolizing the removal of negative energy from the new year.   At the same time give thanks for all the good things which occurred during the past year so they will continue in the New Year.

In preparation for this New Year’s Eve, I invite you to go buy a bunch of grapes (share with your friends), find something red, yellow, green or white to wear and write your list before your first drink.

Make a decision that 2012 is YOUR year.  That nothing, absolutely nothing will stop you from being all you can be.  As mentioned in a previous blog, don’t choose to do something different; choose to “be” the person you have always meant to be!

In the words of Madonna “Let me whisper in your ear an invitation to the dance of life.”

Celebrate everything about YOU!