It is a gorgeous New Year’s Day in New Jersey, USA. 2023 has arrived on all corners of Planet Earth and humanity embraces Hope.
After meditating this morning and then pondering what profound message I might share on this auspicious day, I came upon a video on my social media feed that stuck. It was a lesson on a New Year’s Eve tradition among us Spanish-speaking folks, delivered by beloved Sofia Vergara as Gloria on the TV sitcom, Modern Family. In it, she schools her non-Latino husband, Jay (played by the inimitable Ed O’Neill), on the importance of having grapes on New Year’s Eve. Twelve of them, specifically. One for each month of the year. One wish per grape.
I am Cuban-American. I’ve been eating 12 grapes every New Year’s Eve for as long as I’ve had teeth. And yet, in my 57 years of Latina life, I didn’t know that I was supposed to make 12 wishes! WHERE HAVE I BEEN? That’s a whole 684 wishes unmade! HOW did I miss this?
Qué tragedia.
So I forego all introspection this fine day. I put down the burden of resolutions and goals and all the mental energy it takes to generate change. Today, I share the responsibility of my desires with my ancestors and any Higher Power that might be listening. The Eve hour has passed, yes, but you know what? It’ll be January 1, 2023 all day long.
Also, I still have grapes, and my Higher Powers know I’m Cuban, which means they know I’m late to everything.
Before midnight strikes, on each sacred uvita, I shamelessly wish for:
- A healthy, strong, resilient, flexible body.
- Same for my heart.
- Same for my mind.
- Same for everyone I hold dear, including my 89 year-old mom.
- An open flow of satisfied coaching clients.
- A publishing offer.
- A reading audience.
- More hugging.
- More laughing.
- More dancing.
- My next furbaby.
- An enduring, courageous, unshakeable love.
To you, a warm embrace from a heart that wishes you a BOWLFULL of grapes, and ALL your wishes upon them come true.
Cheers to a healthy, gentle, peaceful 2023.
S
Light of Day Coaching LLC 
I wish all these things for you, SuSu. Love the tradition. I don’t have grapes though. Will raspberries work? Hershey kisses?
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Right back at you, dearest friend. My ancestors say ABSOLUTAMENTE on the raspberries and the Kisses (although they want you purchase Spanish grapes. 🤣)
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