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Dear Readers,
Welcome to 2005. It’s going to be a great year. We
should all be optimistic and enthusiastic about the
year ahead because it’s great to be around people
who radiate joy and enthusiasm. It rubs off on all
of us.
Around January first, we all become more positive
and enthusiastic. The first of the year is a time
when we renew our commitment or make a new
commitment to change. We try to correct those things
that we feel we fall short on acceptance in our
life. Sometimes this is our weight, or it can be our
money management. We are always trying to make our
life better, and around the first of the year we try
even harder. The decision to try to change starts us
all going in a positive direction. This is good.
When I was preparing to write this column I searched
for something to write about that would be uplifting
and I wanted to talk about making family life
better. I certainly have had my share of New Year’s
Resolutions and I have broken a few as well! For
some reason, though, this year I could not find the
“positive” outlook I was seeking. I tried over and
over again, but it was just not there.
Then when I started putting these words on paper, I
saw the reason for my negative mood. The world seems
to be in such turmoil. Everywhere I look there’s
negativity in the air. The main stream press seems
to pull out every bit of “negative” they can find
and Iraq is clouding us with news reports of death
and injury to our young soldiers, fighting for the
Iraqi people’s right to choose their own government.
My own son spent almost a year fighting in Iraq so I
feel connected to the parents of soldiers who have
been injured and those who will never come home. And
even though BJ is home now, I still stop what I am
doing and listen intently to the news when they talk
of roadside bombs and suicide bombers. I feel pain
for the parents of the soldiers who are hurt or
killed.
BJ recently told me, “Mom, family is everything. It
is more important than I ever imagined.” He is so
right. Your family is who you are; they are part of
your every breath. It’s when we are apart from our
family that we realize how much they mean to us.
Just like the saying, “You don’t know what you’ve
got until it’s gone.” With that in mind, I have
decided not to lose sight of what matters.
I am so lucky to have such a great family, such
wonderful children and a truly fantastic husband. My
resolution is to value my own family more and show
them how important they are to me. I will hug my
children more often, kiss my grandkids more
frequently and dance with my husband every chance he
gives me. Life is good, life is grand. It is going
to be a great year!
Brenda
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