Good Riddance Day
December 29, 2009
On the Today show this morning, I learned that yesterday was the third annual Good Riddance Day, organized by the Times Square Alliance in New York City. From 12 to 1 p.m. a large industrial shredder was set up and more than 200 New Yorkers and tourists participated, according to www.nypost.com. A dumpster and a sledgehammer were also provided for unshreddable items.
What a great idea! Take your bad memories, your troubles and difficulties, the sadnesses and frustrations of 2009 and just…annihilate them.
But what about those of us who don’t live in New York? (For that matter, what about those of us who heard about Good Riddance Day the day AFTER it occurred?) Have your own Good Riddance Day right where you live. If there’s something from 2009 you’d like to put behind you, find a picture of it or write it down and SHRED it. Or tear it into itty bitty pieces by hand. Or burn it (safely, of course).
Sometimes it’s good to have a ceremony to rid ourselves of unwanted baggage. Sometimes we can’t move forward because our past mistakes, or the wrongs done to us, are clinging to our ankles like lead weights. Sometimes we need to do a little personal shredding in order to move on with life.
I plan to make a little visit to my shredder tonight. How about you?
5 comments
We try (weather dependent) to have a fire on New Year's Eve and to burn any regrets, unfinished business, etc. In fact, I have a story somewhere about it - I'll see if I can dig it up!
ReplyDeleteBut whether you burn it, shred it, stomp it, or sledgehammer it, it's good medicine!!
That's a great idea, too! And a little more festive and thoughtful than a shredding party.
ReplyDelete.....I'm about to do that right now in my office.......cleaning up and getting rid of lots! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of this holiday, either. But it is always helpful to use ritual to proclaim to our psyches that we have definitely put something behind us... otherwise, I know I personally have a tendency to cling and worry -- over things that can no longer be changed. How insane is that? ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a bonfire on New Year's Eve, for sure. But then, I like bonfires in general. Happy New Year, Kathy!
Happy New Year to you both, Kelly and Meredith! May 2010 be a superb year for all of us!
ReplyDelete