A time for reflecting....and celebrating

"New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights." ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

I just about always set myself into a spin in the last few days of a year - reflecting on the year that's coming to an end. Was it productive? Was it fun? Was it happy? Was it what I'd hoped? Did I achieve anything in my career? Did I make a valuable community contribution? Did I learn anything new? Was I good to my family? Was I a good friend? Did I do anything remarkable or anything that I'm proud of? What could I have done better? What didn't I do that I'd really thought I would? and on and on and on.

The New Year brings me perspective. Maybe it's just the quiet time away from work, away from study and past the chaos of Christmas. The perspective this New Year has brought is that 2006 was a scary crazy year for our little family and not one I'm keen to repeat anytime soon.

So 2007 is a fresh start. Thank heavens for that. I love that a new year brings fresh hope and promise and another chance to try and make things right.

2007 is going to be a calmer, more fun year for us. We are going to spend more time together as a family doing things we love, not just doing jobs.

It seems absurd how hard it is to live a simple life. But that's what we want this year. Simple lives. Simple pleasures. Wish us luck.

peace and love and new year blessings to you
xxxx