The shopping's over, Christmas presents have been opened, and things have reached a momentary respite before that New Year's bash, the flood of bowl games, and a manic run-up to the Super Bowl. My state, North Carolina, has seen snow in every one of its hundred counties since Christmas Day. There's something calming, serene about the predominance of white, especially now that the sun has turned its smiling face on us. 

Not much to do but think the year over. The U.S. has been through a lot these past twelve months, as have many of us individually - a time of trial - events and situations testing our mettle. And so many other happenstances have come to us to test us personally as well as collectively.

So what do your think, in the vein of lessons learned? What can we resolve to do to make use of these lessons in 2011?

One suggestion: read. 

We're inescapably linked these days in every imaginable electronic way, but most of us, I suspect, tend to relish the splendid isolation modern life affords us. That's certainly of value, but as we survey our interior world(s), take the time to let in the views of those worlds others have reduced to words. There's more  common ground than alien territory in others' experience, and we can always learn from them. So on the quiet winter nights to come, dig into that stack of books you've been neglecting - and read.

Of course, some who read this are writers. Take the time, word-crafters. Reflect. Ponder. Articulate. Put it down in writing. Something there will be of value to someone else. I guarantee it.