A Clean Slate

In my work as a hospice chaplain, I have the privilege of encountering many people. One of the folks I had the honor of journeying with had lost their ability to speak. Most communication was by way of shakes and nods of the head, facial expressions, and shoulder shrugs. They also had a whiteboard with which they were able to ask questions and offer deeper thoughts. I stopped by one morning for a visit during which time the whiteboard was not used as what needed to be communicated didn’t demand it. I noticed that the whiteboard was within reach and held partially wiped-out thoughts likely from the prior day so I asked this friend if I might provide a clean slate wiping away yesterday’s thoughts to make room for today’s. A clean slate on which to write the worries and joys of the day. A clean slate on which to share the deep and meaningful struggles of broken relationships. A clean slate to help let go of yesterday’s concerns and start anew with today’s joys.

What would that look like for you? What would a clean slate mean for you in this new year of 2025? January tends to bring about resolutions and aspirations that are well intentioned but oftentimes unachievable when they are set in the context of an entire year so maybe we can approach them in smaller doses by offering ourselves a clean slate every day.

​As a reiki practitioner, there are principles I do my best to practice. Each one begins with “just for today…” which helps set the mind on a goal that is achievable and offers the opportunity to start each day with a clean slate. What if we approached our new year’s resolutions and aspirations on a daily basis with the intention of working toward them “just for today…” – one day at a time?

The responses that were received for this month’s blog question “What would your life look like if you had a clean slate?” lend themselves well to this daily approach.

D.S. responded, “There will not be any broken pieces of yesterday.” Imagine beginning each day with this type of commitment mindfully engaging in life so nothing is “broken” at the end of the day.

A.S. said a clean slate would look like “more compassion, more forgiving, more Dave!” (Sounds like he’s a lucky guy!!) This person’s focus on the relational aspects of life is certainly something to strive for daily.

S.K-B. wrote, “Acknowledge the past, don’t dwell there, and move forward.” Our past can certainly never be wiped clean like a whiteboard nor should it be. The past informs the present and ultimately our future but it’s important not to get stuck there. Again, a daily reminder could go a long way in accomplishing this goal.

I also answered this month’s question. For me, a clean slate looks like “starting over with no inhibitions.” What holds us back from wiping the slate clean each day and moving forward in life? Imagine throwing out all inhibitions… Fear, self-doubt, unending questions, the grief upon grief that comes with life, the feeling of never being enough, the uncertainty that comes with big life decisions… What would it look like to let all of that go and simply start fresh with a clean slate?

Imagine living life with an openness to whatever and wherever God, Spirit, the Divine, the Universal Life Energy is leading you. A clean slate with no road blocks. A clean slate where only trust exists – trust in the Divine – trust in yourself. Let’s resolve to do our best to begin each day with a clean slate so we can live lives of compassion and forgiveness making sure there are no broken pieces to mend at the end of the day as we move forward in the here and now rather than dwelling in the past.