2016. Good riddance. But did we learn anything from it? Some people, I think, did, though whether they learned enough remains to be seen, and others will learn some hard lessons in 2017 as a result of 2016. I admit I go into this year with trepidation, and not just because little rascal Angus started the new year by dumping over a glass of water, leaving the wood floor behind my end table and couch (in other words, hard to reach) drenched, which led to not tending my steeping pot o'tea so it flavored well beyond full strength right into bitter and undrinkable, and how the new year starts off tends to set the tone for the rest of the year. No, there is much in our society that is upset, divided, angry, on both sides of the divide. I don't see that healing, nor even easing. That's a very uncomfortable feeling.
I will be looking for peace here at home, in my rabbitry, in my studio, in the garden, in myself. I will also join in the speaking up, though all the voices speaking up will likely not result in peace, at least not anytime soon, our differences are that great, our passions that strong. I will also be looking for little moments of silly to savor, antidotes to the daily news, balm to raw emotions. I want to focus on healthy eating - yes, even those leafy greens - as well as on stronger muscles, because those 2 things bolster a thoughtful mind, ease a troubled one. Mostly, I want to aim for hope.
I wish each of you a better year than I expect we'll get.