Bring on the New Year!

Man, what a year. Whew. What a decade actually when you stop to think about it. Unreal. I thought I’d take a moment on this last day of the decade to reflect a little on the future while glancing back at the past. I, for one, have some grand plans for the upcoming year (details at 11). Moving out of the “aughts” and into the “10s” (or is it “teens”), it just feels like this could be the year things really come together.   

On what do I base this feeling? Well, for one thing, Kelly and Lisa. I’m not talking about the astrologer team from Yakima, but rather our friends. I’ve spoken of them many times in these pages, from their dinner parties to their killer restaurant recommendations. We had dinner at their home the other night, along with Scott and Teresa, and as always it was just spot on. Teresa made a crab bisque that any chef would have been proud to serve, and the clams were out of this world. Add in a wonderful Caesar salad, fresh crabs, and some of the best wine around, and it was another one for the record books. And just to be clear, as usual it was the company that truly took center stage. With friends like these in our life, how can the upcoming year not be wonderful?

Another reason to be optimistic is I have Beth in my life. She is an anchor and a sail all in one. She keeps me steady in rough currents and yet has faith enough in me to let the spinnaker fly. From camping, to watching football together, to our discussions on spiritual matters; she is the reason I look forward to each new hour/day/year/decade.

I’ve also started to be more optimistic with… me. Sounds a bit odd, I know, but the fact is this past decade has been pretty bruising to the old ego. Failed relationships, financial plans gone wrong and lost jobs, they all took a pretty heavy toll. In the past couple of months though, I’ve started to rebuild some of that lost self worth using meditation and friends. I still have a ways to go, but I’m really beginning to believe in the idea, ‘place the mask over your own nose and mouth first, then help out others around you’.

Finally, it looks like I will be starting a new gig after the first of the year. I’ll be heading back to Microsoft, but as a contractor this time. I’ll be working in a group led by a man I admire greatly, which in itself is reason enough to be giddy. I’m looking forward to it, and will post more once I start.

I’ll leave you for now with a quote from Edgar Guest that I believe captures how I feel about the New Year.

“A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I’ve played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.”

Have a great one kids, talk to you soon.
Gregor