UNITED STATES—Another year (2018) has departed—12 months, 52 weeks, and 365 days have ticked away. The residue of events, happenings, and goings-on of 2018 dwell in newspapers, history books, human memories—and in the bowels of computer hard drives, cell phones, and other techno devices. More time has passed—8760 hours, 525,600 minutes, and 31,536,000 seconds have ticked away.
Sunrises and sunsets. The earth, sun, and moon work together. Gravity fastens our feet to the ground. Spring, summer, fall, winter—the four seasons happen yearly.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The former year has come to an end.
The media looks back on each previous year to tell the top stories on planet earth: political scandals, natural disasters, murder and mayhem, tragic accidents. International stories. National stories. And local stories.
Hollywood looks back at award-winning films. Along with celebrity marriages and divorces. Celebrity births and deaths. Celebrity gossip.
People look back at trophies, plaques, medals, honors, prizes, and awards. Mementos of excelling and winning. Hard work and teamwork. We look back at academics, sports, arts, music. We store up memories as stories are written into our brains.
In the USA, wind, water, and fire received our full attention in 2018. The wildfires in California. Historic Hurricane Michael left a trail of destruction across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Hurricane Florence flooded the Carolinas.
We look back so we can look forward. “If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday,” surmised Pearl Buck. 2018 is no more. We read newspapers in our communities; watch the evening news; and scan headlines via the internet. We talk and text recollections. We reminisce with laughter or tears.
Sometimes we look back with regrets and long for reconciliations. 2019 can be a second chance to seek forgiveness. 2019 can be an opportunity to end relationships and begin new relationships. 2019 can be a turning point in your life. How can you decrease hurry-scurry-worry?
Pour another cup of coffee. Find a quiet place. Reflect upon 2018. What would you change? What would you not change? Make friends with change.
Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The New Year is here.
In 2019, every person will become a year older between January and December. Vehicle registrations, property taxes, and income taxes are due again. More births, graduations, marriages, retirements, and deaths will occur. Life is a living creature.
“Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both,” proclaimed C. Wright Mills.
Are you welcoming or dreading 2019? Or both? We’ll make resolutions, goals, and plans. Buy a house or sell a house. Keep a job or take a new job. Have children or not have children. We’ll make easy decisions and difficult decisions in 2019. Some things will stay the same. Some things will change. Change is scary and necessary.
What are some of my New Year’s resolutions for 2019? Read more books. Encourage more old ladies to wear yoga pants. And learn how to use a chainsaw.
Happy New Year to the fine folks of America! Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, and educator. She lives in Ohio. www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
Written By Melissa Martin
