High Hopes

"This year will be different", she says to herself at the dawn of the New Year. Reaching in the drawer she pulls out her fresh new journal, turns to the fresh new page, with high hopes for a fresh new year. Rummaging through the contents littered on the bed-side table she finds a pen and plunks herself down on the edge of the bed.

With a heavy sigh, as if releasing all things old and inhaling aspirations and goals for the immediate future, she puts pen to paper and begins to jot down her thoughts.

Dissatisfied. Discontent. Longing for change.

"Hmmm.." she thought, "what has happened over this past year that makes me want to change? A year is a long time. A lot has happened and has not happened. A lot of good and a lot of bad".

Finding it hard to remember many of the events (world-wide, local and personal) she begins to write the ones that still remain vivid in her mind:

Hurricane Katrina.

"Dear God, this year I aim to be more grateful for all that I have. All that I am blessed with, the country and climate that I enjoy and appreciate. My goal is to grow deeper, become more self-less and be more aware of the well being and needs of others."

Ten year old girl drops dead on school bus. Young boy killed by a plane that skidded off runway. 15-year old girl shot dead while shopping by gun violence. Countless other unexpected and sudden deaths.

"Dear God, I want to stop living each day as if I got it at a boxing day sale--dirt cheap! Instead, help me to value life and living for what it is--a precious gift. Give me eyes to see those around me as valuable treasures to be handled with grace, patience and gentleness. Recoginzing that the ones I love the most could be snatched from me at any moment of any day. Remind me to never pass up an opportunity to show or speak love."


Staring at the pages of what she has just written she contemplated her goals, knowing that they were 'tall order' and only possible as she continued her transformation from the inside out. Knowing that there are so many other things to change, the thoughts of writing them all down seemed both depressing and overwhelming to her. There would always be things to change and improve on and making resolutions that won't be kept made no sense at all.

Before getting up and moving on with the first day of the new year, she filled in the last line of the first page...

"It is easy for me to forget even the most obvious. Please remind me and keep me aware and awake. "Happy (and hopeful) New Year!"