New Year thoughts

Every New Year we wish ourselves and others well. This year, 2009, is the same and I do wish everyone a wonderful New Year. The thoughts that have come to me in many ways, from many people, have been about how much they feel that they influence the terrible things that happen in their lives. A lot of new age people tell them, through books, etc. that we have the power and the influence to stops things that happen to us, and when bad things happen it is our fault, we asked for them, and wanted them, and then they occur. Life and reality is not further from the truth. An example would be: A wonderful person told me that when her cat became very sick, she felt responsible. She felt she could have stopped it from happening. In truth, she could not. People who buy into the thoughts that they have so much power that they can stop the rain from falling, stop people from dying, stop sickness, stop accidents, stop people from hurting others and themselves, have long ago lost the truth in life; we don't have the power to do those things, and we don't have the knowledge that helps us make these decisions. It is just here for us to live through and learn from and we, of course, would not want to go through these things. The response to what I just wrote from those who believe that they do have the power and knowledge is: "We have to go through it". My response is that if you "have" to do anything it is not a choice.
What I say when I meet people who feel that they could have changed something terrible that has happened to them is, please give yourself a break. Know that we are all in the same boat. Don't think that awful things will come to you because of something that you did and that you could have done something to prevent it. Sometimes life is just a run away train. Sometimes life brings us to a train station that we do not want. Try telling a many ton train not to stop at that station and try to convince the conductor, who has his schedule to keep, that you, one person, do not want him to stop at that station. And then life will be more clear, easier, and less stressful because you will know that it is not for you to decide. The responsibility will be off your shoulders and as long as you take care of things as well as you know how, that is your power.
Enjoy the new year and enjoy each day. For when the train comes to the stops you don't want, remember that the train continues on it's way to much better and brighter stations.