No more New Year’s resolutions

There comes a time in everyone’s life – if you’ll permit Jeff and myself to modestly speak for everyone -when you stop making New Year’s resolutions because you know full well you aren’t going to keep a single one of them.

In our combined total of over 30 years we’ve both gone through all the deeply personal resolutions. Like those involving outer physical appearances, resulting entirely from eating far too much or nagging self-induced health questions. In my case these were exclusively connected to smoking and what to do about the increasing number of sluggish mornings as you grow older through enjoying too much fine wine before going to bed on a full stomach.

Well, Jeff gave-up worrying about appearances a decade ago around the time Clint Eastwood announced he’d become a father again at the age of 74. I quit smoking cold turkey one unforgettable afternoon in India in 1986 after a sudden surge of mystic spiritualism. And although we both still love our fine wines, its now only in moderation and never within two hours of driving a motor vehicle or going to bed, or both.

Naturally, we hope for continued good health, love and deep friendship between ourselves, our family and friends, some sense of stability and a feeling of security in these turbulent times. But these are year-round wishes. There doesn’t seem to be much you can do to influence them one way or the other apart from working hard on them and yourself.

Despite all that the “turbulent times” thought lingers. No matter how you try to shut it out.

Not that these days are any more turbulent than they were when Jeff and I appeared on the scene during World War II and during some of the pretty close calls since.

But wouldn’t it be nice if we could all make a wish and have our favourite news reporters bring us good tidings from places that were only yesterday war-torn. And show us scenes of children smiling and playing instead of angrily throwing stones at tanks.

Of our leaders talking about compassion, and meaning it, instead of asking for increased military spending and threatening other nations with punitive actions.

Of festivals of peace instead of councils of war. Of the rich nations talking about sharing instead of developing.

Wishing all these things and more like them, fervently – a Happy New Year to one and all.