The New Year, 2016

I have been putting off writing a New Year's blog post, I can't lie about that.  I didn't want to make a post full of well-meaning yet empty promises, and boast of the bountiful glory that a new year promises.  So I am sure that the words that flow from my fingertips from this point on will be a mixed bag ... you have been warned.

I do not wish to be overly negative.  I want to face 2016 with a realistic sort of optimism, should there be such a thing.  However, I have to admit that I am troubled by the potential negatives that could come along with the equally possible opportunities of wonderful and joyous promises a new year may bring.

With new threats of terrorism abroad, and our very own presidential candidates antagonizing the very groups that have threatened and attacked the world throughout the years, I hope that 2016 or even later years can prove to be years of peace.  It is my sincere hope that the world will work toward peace; however, the reality appears gloomy.  Our world needs to find forgiveness and love for our fellow man, rather than leaning toward hatred, anger, being quick to take vengeance.  War, watching our children starve, our people suffer ... none of this is worth the vast disagreements, money, oil, religious and political differences, that the powers that be fight over.

Even in my personal life, I have family and friends that cannot forgive each other for past wrongs.  They tear each other apart, hold grudges, bitterly begrudging one another of the love they once shared.  I, too, have had my share of such grudges in previous years.  I have tried to forgive, and I have mostly succeeded.  I feel closer to my family and to many of my friends than I have in years, what I consider to be a hard-won rekindling of such relationships.  However, ugliness and feuding threatens to rear its filthy head my way once more, which saddens me greatly.  It is sad that, not necessarily to paraphrase an old song from the 80's (Patty Smyth and Don Henley, you know I'm talking about you), but love simply isn't enough in such cases, and I find it so incredibly sad and disheartening.  It breaks my heart that such horrible things have to happen that tear people apart, and the ripple effects are tragically astounding.

When people feel used and betrayed, and feel as though they are doing all the work in a friendship or other relationship, it certainly does cause a rift.  The damage can often be irreparable.  No one likes to feel tossed aside, or even worse, made the enemy in such situations.  I was never one for conflict and am more likely to make attempts to be a peacemaker, but it is certainly never an ideal place to be a third party to such matters.  However, being directly involved in the conflict is another matter altogether.  Feeling that someone you trust is doing everything they can to go against you, use you, and betray you is quite the form of torture.

Unfortunately, the year has started out with such angst, on several levels.  I pray for resolutions, peace, and a release from such anxieties for myself, my friends, and my family.  I pray that these wounds will heal and that the damage will not be long-lasting and scarring to the people I love.

I think I may have failed at the trying not to be overly negative part.  My apologies.  It happens.

What I do strive for in 2016 is to continue my education, do well at my career, improve my writing and produce more literary works, and enrich the friendships and relationships I have worked to attain and maintain over the years.  The blessings of 2015 have far outweighed the negatives, thus far.  It is my hope that 2016 will be more of the same, for all of us.

Please do not let the errors and heartache of past years cloud your judgement, hopes, and dreams going into 2016.  Seek goodness in the world and in each other.  My blessings to you all this New Year!