Hello 2023!

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Personal, Random, Social commentary

What follows is a repeat of my 2016 New Year post … a time when Obama was still president and we were all certain that television buffoon couldn’t possibly become the next president, though we wished he would just sit down and shut up.  I considered writing a new post this year to ring in the new year, to opine on the current status quo, but I think the 2016 post says just about what I would say today, so … why re-invent the wheel?  Anyway, I’ve got cooking to do for tonight’s New Year’s Eve bash (just the 3 of us and a quiet night at home, but still a special family time.)  So with that, I wish you all a safe and happy New Year!

I do not quite understand why it is, but most of us welcome in the new year with great hope for the next 365 days, almost as if we believe that the slate we were using for the past 365 days was wiped clean at the exact moment the ball hit bottom in Times Square, and we are now starting afresh with new hopes, new dreams, a clean slate on which to write a new story, a better one.  Okay, okay … I am not going to be a the one to dash those dreams, those ethereal images that you are seeing with such joy.  Life will see to that soon enough, probably when you awaken in the morning and turn on the news, pick up the morning newspaper, or boot up the computer.

Do you make resolutions at New Year’s?  I do not, so I am always curious about people who do.  Oh sure, I hope that I can do better at certain things than I have in the past, but that is pretty much a daily hope of mine.  Do people who do make resolutions start thinking about their resolutions a week in advance?  A month?  I once had a friend who made his resolution on the morning of January 1st … same resolution every year … when he awakened with a massive hangover and resolved then and there to quit drinking, effective immediately.  His resolution usually lasted for about 12 hours.  Have you ever made a resolution and actually kept it throughout the year?  I don’t think I personally know anybody whose resolution was anything other than a dim memory by January 31st, so I am curious if some people who do make resolutions actually do manage to keep to them.

I do not make resolutions, but I think about, based on the past year, what the year 2016 might bring.  It would be lovely, and I am sure some say this is their hope for the new year, to think that within the next twelve months we will see peace and prosperity around the world, an end to wars in the Middle East, an end to racism and bigotry in our own nation, more love and tolerance, less hatred toward our fellow man, and an end to the highly annoying facebook memes that attempt to compress complex socio-political issues into a single sentence.  Who wouldn’t love to see an end to ISIS, Boko Haram, al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations?  These are dreams we could all share, even if we are divided on who should be the next president of the U.S.  But sadly, just like the person who buys a lottery ticket and goes to bed dreaming of a new home, a new car, and telling his boss “I quit”, when we look back a year from now, I am pretty sure those problems will still exist, others will have joined them, and people will still be … well, human.

Filosofa is not a cynic, contrary to what you may think.  I am actually known in my circle of friends as quite the optimist … annoyingly to some.  But I am a pragmatist, a realist, and as such I do not live in a world of dreams.  One of the readers of this blog commented yesterday that we need to say to ourselves, “okay, the world is a mess … now how do we fix it?”  I like that attitude. So, while I do not make resolutions, I do have hopes.  Unlike hopes for world peace, an end to all war, etc., my hopes are that people will start asking themselves “what can I do to make the world a little bit better?”  And then start looking for answers.  The answers are all around you, if you just realize what the question is.  Many years ago, my answer to this question was, and still is, to treat everybody as human beings.  These days, I try to make a difference by writing, in hopes that I might be able to make just one person think about things that matter.  Most of us, realistically, are not in a position to bring about world peace.  We cannot all be Mother Teresa or Gandhi.  We cannot all be leaders of nations.  But we can make small differences within our own small spheres of influence, in our community, in our neighborhood.  We can volunteer one day a month at a homeless shelter or food pantry, we can help a neighbor who is struggling, we can donate unwanted clothing or food items to the poor.  We can find ways to fight violence without resorting to more violence.  We can talk a little bit nicer to people, say “good morning” and “thank you so much” to the young person who bags our groceries.  Think that doesn’t make a difference?  Think again.

So my hope for the new year is that we all try very hard to find the small things that we can do to help people we come into contact with every day.  No, it will not end the conflict in Syria, it will not eradicate Iran’s enriched uranium supply, and it will not remove Donald Trump from the presidential race, but a lot of little deeds add up to making the world just a little bit better.  You can be part of the problem or you can be part of the solution … your choice.

In closing, I wish each and every one of you a year of peace within your own family and circle of friends, good health and that you be able to meet all of your needs.  Happy New Year!

40 thoughts on “Hello 2023!”

  1. A worthy repeat my friend.Hope floats! May this year bring us wonderful surprises and lots of good cheer! And may the orange con get his just desserts, lol. Happy New Year!! Hugs ❤ xx

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    • Happy New Year to you, Kevin and the kitties, dear Emily! You have a wonderful attitude … I shall try to find a bit of peace and joy amidst the expected chaos of the coming year!

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    • Heh heh … they say history repeats itself, and in that one case, let us hope it does NOT! Sigh. Thanks, Clive, and I hope you have a good year ahead, and also that you got to spend some time with your family over the holidays. Did you get to see your dad?

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      • Fingers crossed! I saw one of my daughters and her family – the two gorgeous granddaughters- but the other one is in Dubai celebrating her husband’s birthday! I’m not mobile, so seeing my Dad isn’t possible. My sister spent time with him on Friday – he is comfortable and being well cared for. I’m just waiting for the call…

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        • I know you basked in the glow of having your daughter and two beautiful granddaughters!!! Dubai? Wow, that’s a long way to go for a birthday bash! I hope they’re having a wonderful time, though. I’m sorry, Clive … I didn’t realize you weren’t able to go visit your dad … I didn’t mean to be insensitive … humble apologies. Yes, at this point, that’s the inevitable answer to ‘what next?’ … that dreaded phone call.

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          • It was lovely! A milestone birthday – she surprised him, as he thought they were going out for a drink when he finished work but she whisked him off to Heathrow instead. From what she has posted on Instagram it looks as though they are having a good time!

            You weren’t insensitive – how could you know? Difficult time for us.

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  7. Just saying, but in about 1979 I tesolved to never mqke another New Year’s Resolution. Haven’t broken it yet, nor will I.
    So have a happy day, a happy year, and even a happy decade. To everyone.

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  8. Happy new year to you and yours, and thanks for all you do. I’m so happy I ran into you at Scottie’s place, and checked out your blog-you make a nice place to come read!

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    • Awwww … thank you so much, Ali!!! I’m so glad we connected as well … you’re part of the family now! Happy New Year and all the best to you and your family for the coming year … and beyond!

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  10. It all applied in 2016, as you noted. It applies to 2022 as we launch ourselves off the high board into 2023. But you know, look back at how many things have changed with the slow bend of time. Think of the country one hundred years. Project forward into what we can be. Fingers crossed, here we go again.

    Happy New Year. Hugs, and cheers, M

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    • I used to be an optimist, but these days I’ve lost much of my optimism. I foresee nothing but noise for the next two years … loud, obnoxious voices whose main goal is to create as much chaos as possible. But, you’re right, on a larger scale, perhaps their is hope. I doubt I’ll last long enough to see peace on earth, or even within this nation, but I still hope for it.

      Happy New Year to you and yours, and big hugs ‘n cheers, dear Michael!

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  11. Pingback: Hello 2023! — Filosofa’s Word | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

    • Thank you, dear friend!!! Yes, Betsy informed me a few days ago that she might have some things to do over your way, and I told her just to be careful. Happy New Year to you and your family, sweet Carolyn!

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