Well, here we are on the cusp of another year. Actually, here on the East Coast of the United States we are several hours into the New Year.  The more I think about it the less sure I am about the delineation. I wasn't born on January first so it doesn't really mark a full new year in my life. I'm not a racehorse, automatically turning a year old on the First of January. So where does that leave me?

 I'm facing another year, another chance to mess up my check book by putting down the wrong year. We'll be a quarter of the way into the year before I remember.  

 Celebrate the new year?  As someone pointed out to me, it's always Near Year's Eve somewhere during this period. Why wait up to watch a ball drop?  It will happen one to three hours later just in the Continental United Statesl  Later in Hawaii. And then there are the countries on the other side of the International Dateline, the countries in Europe and other parts of the globe. 

 I used to be so hopeful about a New Year.  I would use it as a chance to focus on goals. Ahhh but then I'm always reminded of the old expresson, "We plan; God laughs."  

And so I have become, I think, more realistic. We have now, we have this moment and this day. No one has promised us more or that it would be better. High expectations sometimes lead to great falls.

I've learned in this life of mine never to take anything or anyone for granted; they may not always be there. People can be lost in a heartbeat. Literally. We can't count on good health which can be taken from us in a flash. We can't count on much of anything except the present moment and what we can do about it to fill it to the brim with as much good as we can. People will leave, others will come. Some will actually stay. Jobs come and go with the economy and book contracts are as scarce as hen's teeth.

Tell those you care about that you love them. You won't be sorry. They may not be there forever. Savor the moments. That's what we have. Moments.  Do something unselfish at least once.  Go ahead. It feels good. Really. And no matter how you're feeling, don't forget to smile. Being kind to each other or at least trying to look cheerful is a gift to society. A rather contagious gift. 

I wish you many wonderful moments, hopefully enough that will string together to form a pretty decent year when you look back on it. If it doesn't, well, that's life.  Do your best, try not to hurt anyone and try to give someone a helping hand along the way. The good times are in the small moments.