We were blessed to spend new year’s eve in Kananaskis Provincial Park with a group of nearly 30 kind and interesting people. Wendell, a former co-worker of Neil’s, has been renting the Ribbon Creek Hostel for more than 20 years to create a space for his friends and family to ring in the new year together.
This is the second year we’ve had the chance to join the group for two days and nights of fun and celebration. We played games, went for walks, sat by the fireplace and sang songs. We made music together (one fellow is an elementary school music teacher and brought a guitar and a bunch of percussion items, like jingle bells and shakers). Many went cross-country skiing. We divided into two sub-groups and one group made supper on the 30th, then the other group made supper on the 31st, for the whole group. We all brought our own food stuffs for breakfasts and lunches.
On New Year’s Eve the whole group made the very short drive into Kananaskis Village to watch the beautiful 9:00pm fireworks display that was set to Christmas music. It’s so great that it’s dark early at this time of year, because I’m not up to waiting for midnight fireworks anymore!
I took a break from the games and laughter after the fireworks to light a white candle and sit quietly. I wrote down the things I wanted to release as we left 2022 behind. I burned the list in the fireplace. Then I wrote out a set of intentions for 2023, giving myself a great start for the new year.
How did you spend your new year’s eve? Would love to hear about it. You can write to us at info@shindao.com or call us at 403-285-5266.
And it’s not too late to do some letting go and set new intentions for this year…. you could still do a burning ceremony for yourself at this point. If you do, let us know!
May this year be filled with love, light, laughter and joy.
With love from our home to yours,
Tina and Neil
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