Winnie's Way: New Year 2007

A brand new year, 2007, stands before us as the old year changes to new. It is a time to look forward, of course. Tough, perhaps, but maybe even more important, we should look back at years past, as many as each of us can remember, to see where we have been, and what life has taught and brought us. Where are we and how are we today? Are we doing what we always dreamed of? Why, or why not?

What we have done in the past almost always determines where we are now and what we can look to achieve or have in the future.

I'm an old lady now, who grew up in those terrible Great Depression years without money and hope for college. I have achieved few of my early dreams, but neither have I failed. I wanted to be a doctor and/or an artist. I am neither. I have, however, doctored family and critters. I painted, potted and worked with many crafts with little or no fame or fortune.

I had a solid marriage for two-thirds of a century, with three children who grew up to be useful citizens. I earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with honors in my 40s and spent twelve and a half years in school classrooms where I hope I helped many children.

My husband and I worked hard to earn our very modest homes and farm.

We paid our debts. I guess that is success, though it wasn't my dream, but there is satisfaction in having lived an honest, useful life.

People look forward to each new year hoping it will bring them health and good fortune. It is a hope which can only be achieved by hard work and dedication, using whatever strengths and talents we each have. The hard part is keeping hope and expectations alive, especially when illness or misfortune develops and the goal seems to retreat into the distance.

This is when dedication helps. If the goal was worthy to begin with, it is only a temporary delay. Frustrating, yes, but new years are made to look forward to new beginnings and the achieving of goals temporarily put aside when unpredicted troubles smack us down, causing us to put the job aside temporarily. The New Year is a good time to start anew to get that desired dream. SO, HAPPY NEW YEAR!