It’s nearly 2018. Didn’t 2017 fly past?!!

Did you achieve any goals this year? Did any dreams come true? Have you dreamt a new dream? Did you make new friends? Have you changed a bad old habit? Did you start a new good habit? Have you developed an interest in a new singer, writer, artist or athlete?

Did you fulfil all those new year’s resolutions you made at the beginning of 2017? If you didn’t, that’s okay. There’s always next year.

Some of my dreams came true this year, which keeps me hanging on in hope for the others. My spine has deteriorated even more but the cancer, so far, is behaving itself and is basically dormant there in the little nest it’s made in my ribs. (Swings and roundabouts.)

As I’m getting older, I find that I’m less interested in accumulating stuff. I’m finding more and more joy in the little, simple things: the birds in my garden, a child’s laughter, sweet potato chips/crisps …

It’s an interesting phenomenon that as the outer tent in which my soul dwells, becomes more decrepit – wider, saggier, faded and a bit wobbly – the inner tent has become more spacious, full of light and shade, with colourful tapestries and intriguing ornaments.

I don’t make any new year resolutions; I stopped doing it years ago. I found all the ones about my weight and appearance were guaranteed disappointment; the ones about “success” were always too vague to ever succeed, and the rest were impossible (world peace; nuclear disarmament; correct use of grammar on television …)

I keep things simple these days: try to be kind; look for the good; be thankful.

Thanks to all of you for enriching my life, to listening to me as I dribble on in this blog and for, sometimes, making the effort to reply. I hope 2018 is all you wish it to be. But, if it’s not, I hope you find enough to encourage you to hang in there, keep hoping, keep dreaming and keep doing the right thing. Don’t forget: we’re all in this together, so we might as well try to make it work. Blessings to you and yours.