Maria Shriver

Message for the New Year: Gather Yourselves

By Maria Shriver

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Happy New Year to all you Architects of Change. I hope your holidays were a time of joy, gratitude and awe.

A dear friend sent me the following "Message from the Hopi Elders" on the last day of this year. It's one of my favorites and I wanted to share it with you. It hits home every time I read it. In fact, I have a framed copy of it in my office next to Mary Oliver's wonderful poem, The Journey.

Both are worth reading as we head into a new year, a new time, and a new journey. This Hopi message contains important questions that many of us already are -- or will be -- asking ourselves as we enter 2012. Think about these questions. Gather within and gather yourselves.

Join the conversation below: What are you looking forward to in the New Year? What are you doing? What are your relationships? Where is your water?

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"A Message From the Hopi Elders,
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.
Here are the things that must be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know our garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift, that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try and hold onto the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destruction.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open and our heads above the water.
And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves.
Banish the word "struggle" from your attitude and vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and celebration.
We are the ones we have been waiting for!"
--Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation