Happy New Year 2025

The year, the day, started off well for me as I thought of all the fun things I could do this last day of my vacation from writing or editing, but then I read about the terrorist attack in New Orleans.

2025 isn’t starting off well for the family and friends of all those killed and wounded in the attack. Not to mention the people who were there and narrowly escaped the carnage. What a horrible, frightening thing to experience on an evening that is for partying and celebrating.

How anyone could think that killing and wounding multiple people is a balm for whatever demons drive him or her is beyond my comprehension.

That this kind of occurrence happens over and over stirs anger and dismay in me that knows no bounds. I feel gutted and helpless and struggle to look out into the world to see joy, happy, peace, goodness, kindness – yet those are the sights and feelings that can heal the soul for a little while.

So, I bundled up, grabbed my cane, and went for a walk on this cold morning. The sun was bright, the sky a dazzling blue, and the wind was soft on my cheeks.

I said hello to neighborhood dogs who always greet me with a “woof” and heard a hawk calling to it’s mate. Pausing, I finally saw him perched high in the bare branches of a tree. Couldn’t fumble my phone out fast enough to get a picture, but I can still see him in my mind. That’s good enough.

When I got home, the kitty that I feed on my front porch was there, wanting her breakfast, and the backyard cat, BC, was also ready for chows. He’d been off wandering for a couple of days, so it was good to see him back.

Both of these cats go around the neighborhood for food, and I worry about them crossing the street. BC seems to have street smarts and pauses before heading across, but the black kitty just dashes. But I need to push that worry aside, and just focus on the enjoyment they bring. The black kitty is very friendly and likes to be petted after she eats. BC is still feral, but has started to warm up to me a little when I sit out on the back porch and talk to him. We’ve come a long way from when he used to run off my deck if I was outside too long.

Then when I came into my office to get this post finished, I saw a wonderful video of the New Year’s Eve tradition in Ukraine called Malanka – which is a festival combining folklore and religion that many people take part in. There’s food, drinks, partying, parades, pranks, singing, and dancing in the streets. People dress up as biblical figures, animals, and folk heroes, then walk around the town or village singing and performing small shows. They visit homes to perform for the families who let them in, and in return they receive sweets, food, or even sometimes money.

Watching that video and learning about this tradition, made me smile. Hope the video does the same for you.

Closing out my thoughts for today is this message from Charles Schultz, creator of Charlie Brown & his friends. The cartoons are filled with humor and great wisdom from a man who thought deeply about the human condition, and the message in the philosophy is also very wise.

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz,
The creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.
You don’t have to actually answer the questions.
Just think about them.
If you read the post straight through, you’ll get his point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers.
They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies.
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones
with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They simply are the ones who care the most.

That’s all for today, folks. My wish for you is a year ahead filled with good health, good times, and good friends. Happy New Year!

“Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!” Oscar Wilde