When a new year arrives I am often thinking of what will I do New Years Eve? Shall I stay home and watch other people enjoy it on TV? How about going out somewhere and joining a group of revelers ? There are many choices and sometimes they are not ours to make.

So what does it mean if I can have my way? Funny, I often spend that day remembering the past year. What went right and what went wrong. Memories of other years , like illusive ghosts float around my mind, asking "do you remember the year 19?" You cant quite recall the exact year. But you do remember being ready to go out to celebrate and a phone call changed it to an emergency. Some thing happened that made New Years Eve different than expected.

So what does it mean when it starts on this different key and how do I face this new year? For me I hope it will help me be a better person. One thing I am going to do is follow the advice of friends whose Christmas card did not include a computer note but a handwritten note.

It seems many of my friends felt a need to send a real note this year. Almost all saying they want to reconnect , they want their words on a page in their handwriting , they want to say You are special and what we shared was special and we are going to show you in the old way, sending you note just for you.

I know it made me feel special as I too remembered in my mind when our lives connected and we shared some very special times. That is number one on list for this year and for years to come.

Do you consider that a new year is a time to reflect on past years? Do you make a promise to yourself to renew your pledge to your family, to fellow travelers , who walk with you? Trying to help those who cross your path to know a better day . That better things may come their way?

Instead of thinking of ME do you think of THEM , your family, your friends, your associates, your neighbors and most of all the people who may cross your path?  If nothing else, will you share a smile as you walk by, or meet in a workplace, a store, a church? Do you realize a smile is often the difference between feeling good and feeling bad? What a wonderful magic medicine a smile can be.

So I hope you will think about that as you look forward to a NEW YEAR ,..twelve months and 365 days to live better, to be better, to give others a helping hand , to be kind, to smile and to say THANK YOU TO GOD AND FRIENDS FOR HELPING YOU TO ENJOY A REAL LIFE .... to remember that a real life isn't just about buying a new car, a new gadget, etc but a life where you can look back and remember those who made your life special and those whose life you made special.

Thoughts on January 4 2010 Anna Alexander

 anna