None of us woke up today (December 31st) expecting to hear the news of Betty White’s passing, and for many of us, it felt like a horrible way to end another painful year. So many people this year (myself included), were personally hit by the loss of family members, friends, and animals in 2021, in addition to the loss of many important and inspirational public figures who also passed away. But there was just something particularly sad about losing Betty White on New Year’s Eve, the very last day of 2021, that really struck a chord with so many of us.
Betty represented what all of us seek, and feel that we are losing: stability (she had been with us our whole lives, and shared a personality that never waivered – she could be counted on always to be the same person we loved and cherished), happiness and hope (she lifted the spirits of everyone she encountered, because she never unleashed darkness into the world), love (she genuinely and completely loved life, her work, animals, and her late husband – all with a passion that never diminished), kindness (is there really anyone in this world who didn’t like Betty White?), and community (everyone could relate to her – she didn’t stir up division or hatred – and she demonstrated through her own sweet way, that differences should not be a cause for discrimination or harm or ugliness, because, deep down, all people are the same inside).
When the world loses a brilliant source of light, the loss can make everything seem so much darker. Unfortunately, we have been losing many sources of light over the past several years – people who have made huge differences in our lives and in the world! And I think that is why we were all left with such shock and sadness for Betty White’s passing. We knew who she was, we loved what she represented, and we thought she would always be there to cheer us up in a world that is increasingly more uncertain and less civil. And we were looking forward to celebrating with her on January 17th, when she would have turned 100 years old. But I think there is an important message from Betty’s passing.
She has reminded us that, we need to be the creators of what we want in life, and the source of our own happiness, and that our sadness is more often the result of hanging onto an image or a person or a time that has passed, instead of what’s really inside of us. Her passing on New Year’s Eve, the very last day of a year and the end of a cycle, was her way of passing the torch to all of us – to remind us to let go of the things we are holding onto so tightly, and, instead, begin a new year with a new goal and a new outlook: to take personal responsibility for the world we want to live in and the happiness we seek in our lives, and to use our own inner power for good. What we loved in her, what we loved about her, we too can manifest in the world! We just need to believe more in ourselves, and to always walk through the world with kindness!
Let’s have more hope for 2022. Instead of seeing darkness and despair, let’s visualize something better and work endlessly to create it. Let’s be more like Betty White!
I didn’t know much about Betty, but they have talked a lot about her on our news and just seeing her smiling face I can understand exactly what you mean. We want kindness and positivity and people who make a whole country and generations feel that are very special.
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Thank you for your comments, Janet. 😊 I love what you said: “We want kindness and positivity and people who make a whole country and generations feel that are very special.” People who can do that against a backdrop of so much hatefulness and divisiveness, really stand out! Happy New Year!
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I can recall her face, but as I live in the UK Anita, I was not brought up with Betty as an Icon like many of you.. Her passing I am sure a blow as so many we have come to share our journey with have departed..
But as you ended your post… 2022 is a New Beginning, a time when one door closes on a chapter, it brings with it the opportunity to open other doors and navigate new corridors that lead us into new friendships, relationships and discoveries of New concepts, ideas, and ways of being..
May all we have learnt not go to waste as we stand in unity for our Freedom and our Sovereignty..
Happy New Earth Year… Stay Blessed
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Hi Anita:
Your post is very inspirational! I could not believe that Betty was just within a few days away when she could have been celebrating her 100th birthday!!! Her love for animals was always an inspiration to me and we have been re-watching a few of her old programs, bringing laughter and joy to many with her bright and beautiful smile and soul.
I completely agree with you and what a nicer New Year’s resolution than to want to follow her example as you expressed so well here than by starting “to take personal responsibility for the world we want to live in and the happiness we seek in our lives, and to use our own inner power for good. ” Opening our hearts and putting more love and compassion in our interactions, more laughter and joy and goodwill and helping one another to heal, to be inspired and feel hope once again! Thank you so much for your hopeful and
beautiful post!
Much love, Amira
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Thank you so much for your very kind comments, Amira! ❤ Like you, I was also drawn to her extraordinary love for animals – a lifelong passion of hers that started early in life. Her kindness and sense of humor, so badly needed these days, will surely be missed for quite some time! ❤ And also, like you, we spent New Year's Eve watching her old programs! 🙂
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What a great post, Betty was one classy lady!
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Thank you so much, Diane. 🙂 She was indeed a classy lady!!
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