New Year Scribbles

New Year's Day is just around the corner and it's a fresh beginning for just about anybody. By this time, some people have drawn up their annual list of New Year resolutions, which I'm guessing is very similar to last year's list (maybe even a carbon copy) to make up for the prior lack of resolve and willpower. The thing is, many people lack the resolve to stick to the resolutions over the long run. Even less so for a whole year. As the writer Mark Twain aptly put it: "New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."

But then again, a list of New Year's resolutions may be better than not having one at all. Maybe real change begins in augmenting how the list is made. I like how Ellen Goodman made a lot of sense when she said, "We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential." Instead of highlighting the bad of ourselves, we should look to highlight the good in us. Works much better for one's self-esteem and I surmise it would get better results, too.

Oh, and a friendly reminder to the children and teens on New Year's Eve: Please be careful with those fireworks!

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Chinese astrology heralds the year 2007 as the Year of the Fire Pig. (Fire and pig together? Sounds like lechon to me...kidding!) Joking aside, I was reading from Astrolog.com about what to expect this coming year. It said that the Chinese Fire Pig symbol (Fire over Water) contains a special character that forms an accelerant. The year has potential for situations to gather speed; to burn out of control. In Chinese astrology, clashes of Fire and Water have powerful, uncontrollable effects, while transformation takes place. Situations flare up quickly and propel out of control. The Water element denotes clandestine affairs, 'behind the scenes', danger. It can indicate physical floods and large scale water problems - potential for extensive damage and destruction. Fire Pig has harmonious elements, but harmony is lost when situations are out of control. Fire Pig years have been fraught with incidents: Wars, political takeovers, enormous unrest.

Whoa! We should be up for an exciting year then. Forecasting the future is a common practice in our Asian culture. But nah, I was never one to believe in predictions anyway. What happens during the year is really what you choose to happen. Life is what you make it, so carpe diem! Seize every day of the year. Your fate is too important to be left to Fate (here's looking at you, Mr. Kristian).

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Let's end the year by thanking God for 2006, for all the good that made us happy and for all the bad that has made us strong. Let's be thankful that we live to see another year unfold and that we're in the now to take hold of it. Another round of 365 days is coming right up. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.

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