Get out the fireworks, noisemakers, and pots and pans or just snuggle up on the couch with the tv tuned to the Rockin’ NYE show in Times Square … *a toast to Dick Clark’s memory* … . whatever works for you!
Celebrate all the good memories of 2012, move on from the not so good if you can, and welcome 2013 with hope and optimism.
I’m excited! I love to welcome in each new year and am forever grateful I have much to celebrate, like good health/a thriving family/wonderful friends/exciting plans. I hope you do too.
We also have a dear friend who is dying and will not see much more time here, let alone another year. We have spent many good hours with him and his wife through the holidays appreciating our moments together. His spirits and attitude are inspiring.
My husband’s brother and his family live in war-torn Aleppo, Syria where life is unimaginable to us right now. Amazingly, we can still talk to them on the phone most of the time but can do nothing more to help them at the moment. Nothing can get through. Each day brings fear and hardship. Their spirits and attitudes are inspiring.
Other extended family and friends are dealing with illness or difficulties. Their spirits and attitudes are inspiring.
Everyone reading this can tell similar stories and of course we all share in the pain of Newtown, Hurricane Sandy and other disasters. We marvel at the response of those whose spirits and attitudes are inspiring through it all.
Life.
This post is not meant to be a downer. I hope it is a reminder to celebrate the human spirit and to support each other and proceed together to make life better in whatever way we are able.
No matter what is being handed to us, the human spirit has a way of staying strong, seeing the positive, and working in whatever way, big or small, to remove the negative. So let’s grab on to this new year and vow to do whatever we can to make the world a better place.
Merci mille fois – thank you a thousand times, for the thoughts, the photos, the wisdom, the humour and most of all the friendship that we share in this amazing blogosphere community. I can’t wait to see what 2013 brings to us all. Onward!
Patricia Sands 
All the best for the new year, Patricia.
And the same to you! 2013 is going to be a great year for writers … I feel it!
Without the difficulty, I don’t think we would appreciate each other so much and cherish those special moments. Your words tie them together beautifully. May we all remember to look ahead and hold loved ones close. Happy New Year!
You are so right, Angelia. My best wishes to you!
Happy New Year, Patricia. I’m so with you – life happens and it’s messy and often painful but we get to choose our attitude about all of it.
So true. It’s our choice even though it is not always easy. All the best, Louise! I hope it has warmed up out west!
Not a downer, just reality! It is a New Year. Let’s hope it is better than the last.
Let’s all do our part and make it happen, my friend!
Sounds great to me!
Love to you and yours, Patricia – I so appreciate your voice and perspective out here.
(Also, I enjoyed seeing Claire’s lovely review on The Bridge Club – a nice note to end the year on!)
http://clairemca.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/travelling-lifes-long-road/
Dear Tele! Thank you for your kind words. Your comment was the first time I was aware of Claire’s lovely review. Thanks for that too! Best wishes to you up there in the beauty of Alaska. I know 2013 holds exciting writing plans for all of us.
Patricia! Thank you for your kind words at my place! I was so sad when we didn’t meet up this year! 😦 But I am sure our paths will cross. Things have a way of happening like that! Wishing you the best in 2013.
We’ll make it happen! All best to you and yours.
A good resolution – try to make the world a better place. Good thoughts to you in the coming new year.
Have a very Happy New Year Patricia!
Happy travels, Meg!
Happy New Year, Patricia! I hope 2013 is good to you.
Rightbackatcha, Kelly! It’s going to be a great year for all of us!
Yay for 2013 Patricia! By the way, I didn’t think your post was a downer. It was real. We can’t stop Life. People are dealing with serious issues. The important thing is to be supportive when we can and hold on to optimism. Ready, set, go! Yep, I’m ready. 🙂
Alright, Karen! It’s great to see you back on the blogs! Goooooo!
Love this, Patricia. Happy 2013 to you!
It’s going to be fantabulous! I just know it!
Ahhh…. you so perfectly captured how I feel about my beginnings with 2013. Thank you Patricia and all the best for the New Year!
Thanks, Kate! Be sure to let me know if you are coming to Stratford! Warmest wishes!
Absolutely Patricia! It will be so much fun to meet you in person.
Beautiful post, Patricia!
“No matter what is being handed to us, the human spirit has a way of staying strong, seeing the positive, and working in whatever way, big or small, to remove the negative.” Yes! That is the lesson I learned from 2012. May 2013 lead us all forward to better places.
Right on, Barb!
You say things so beauuutifully, Patricia.
I love the glee in your comments on my blog and decided to pop over here to thank you for your consistent visits and encouragement for my Noodle Noggin posts.
I do follow your blog, but if Google Reader were an infant, it would suffer from Failure to Thrive due to inattention. I’d promise to be better and check more often, but…
[Insert plausible excuse here. Please and Thank-you.]
You spread joy and encouragement wherever you visit. That, my dear, is priceless. I’ll see you again in 2013. Pennsylvania and Toronto are calling my name.
Gloria dear, I so envy you your ability to be so frickin’ funny and perceptive! Thanks for your kind words. I understand how there simply is not time to comment on every blog and I’m very glad that you find the time to pop by. Can’t wait for another one of your motor trips north!
Well said. The human spirit is frequently underestimated, always. We should never doubt our own good selves. We’re strong. Each one of us can make a difference, we only have to try.
I hope your family make sit out of Syria all right. How horrible… And your friend has a few peaceful days pain free and with family…
Thank you for your good thoughts. They will never leave Syria so we have to hope that the fighting ends soon and some kind of peaceful life returns.
Hi there,
I have nominated your blog for the Reality Blog Award ..for details go to
http://brissiemaz.me/2013/01/04/reality-blog-award/
Congratulations!….I hope you have the time and the inclination to accept the award …..there’s no time frame involved.
Best wishes, Mary 🙂
Oh that is so lovely of you! I’m popping over to your blog right now to see what it is all about. Thank you for being so thoughtful.
There is so much sadness and tragedy in the world, but as you so rightly say, the human spirit has been equipped with a coping mechanism, and we mostly win through in the end. I pray that your husband”s family will be safe in Syria.
Thank you for the thoughtful words. When there is so much that is good and right in the world, it is impossible to understand how evil continues to flourish. Sigh … so we just keep trucking along … doing our bit …
Oh.., You’re going through so much, It’s not a downer but you are inspiring for sharing and keeping your head up. These things happen. I hope your brother and family remains safe and your friend has peace. Some kind of way, we must all find that resilience to keep putting one foot before the other. It’s like learning to walk again.