As 2010 is about to draw to a close, many of us tend to reflect on the year gone by. This tends to be a human characteristic that is genetically written into every race, creed and religious culture around the world. It seems to be a trait that makes us want to assess our achievements and failures, our good times and those not so good. We want to judge where we were at the beginning of the year and see if by any chance we happen to have advanced our financial, spiritual, interpersonal positions and so on.
Often at the beginning of a year many try to set goals for the year and this is the time when we look back to see if we accomplished those aims, or whether we fell short. As is my experience the largest part of society has often forgotten these goals by mid-year and life itself has sent us in directions that we had never even thought of, let alone planned for.
This is just life and a long time ago I decided to quit tormenting myself for my failure to keep to the plans that were made and relish in those things I actually achieved.
If someone had told me at the beginning of each year the things I would do, I would have been the greatest pessimist and told them they had slipped a gasket. Even so, I have at times done some of the things I planned and the others had led me to changes that I have embraced fully and which have led me to some of the greatest joys that I have had in my life.
This is not to say planning is not a good thing, it is just to say most often it is best to be flexible and let life take us forward as it has all of humanity since the beginning of time. It is to say maybe there is a higher power that has set plans for us and we are never able to insert our wishes above these blueprints. It is best to just hitch onto those blueprints called life and enjoy the ride wherever it may take us. The alternative in trying to fight the flow tends to be fruitless and often the most stressful way to go through the limited days that we actually have on this earth.
To those who had made plans to attend the New Year's dance here in Meota, I must relay the bad news that it has been cancelled, due to low ticket sales. It seems there are just not enough interested or able to come out to pay for all of the costs involved. I am told there may be something going on at the Meota Hotel, so for those who are still looking go to something, maybe check that out.
Brenda and I also want to wish everyone the most wonderful blessings in the coming year.
This past week, on Dec. 16, the card players spent some time playing Kaiser as usual with Herman Hoogland taking first place, Fred Gansauge following in second place, Jean Gansauge took third and Shirley Tebay settled in at fourth.
Dec. 17, in canasta, Fred Gansauge and Barb Solominko came out the winners.
This week there was only contract bridge played and in that faceoff Robert Iverson took first honours with Joyce Antoine placing second.
Quote: "When the game of life changes, we have two options, one we can fight a loosing battle trying to reverse or resist the change or we can take the higher pathway to embrace a new direction."