2012 Some Parting Thoughts...

Tonight we say goodbye to a 366 block of days known as 2012. Exactly one year ago most people looked ahead to the year that was about to begin with parties or reflective moments. Some made resolutions of which few saw those goals come to fruition. And some--as either a a joke or a legitimate concern--thought the world would never see 2013. They were wrong.

I look to the upcoming year like I did a year ago...with cautious optimism. After the U.S. elections in November, I told a friend that I don't believe things are going to get better. My friend disagreed. We both hoped things would improve, but I don't think they will, generally speaking. I hold this opinion because of history. Societies tend to fall when they make the choices we are making and we've proven that we're no more intelligent than those who came before.

For me personally, 2012 was a good year. I read a lot of books. I wrote in this blog everyday (which, considering I spent a week with my son at scout camp is quite an accomplishment...). I got back on stage. There are, of course, things I would like to say happened, but I'm also glad to be able to say that there were things that could have happened--things that have happened to other people--that didn't happen to my family.

As I looked out my office window today and watched the snow silently fall on an empty parking lot, I thought about what New Years means to us all. To the sun above the clouds and the moon orbiting the earth, it means nothing...it's a day like every other. So why do we turn this particular 24-hour period into such a potentially life-changing event? It's because we're people and we think we know everything (see paragraph #2 above...).

To all my friends and family, I hope the next 365 block of days known as 2013 will find us all better--better to ourselves and to each other so on a day exactly one year from now we will look back with as few regrets as possible. And the sun and the moon and the earth will be there to support us all. God's speed...