It’s 2016. How did that happen? Where did the year go? I wasn’t finished with it yet; there were still so many things I was going to get done “before Christmas”. Then it was “before the new year”. Now it’ll have to be “before Easter”.

The lights in the front garden are gone but the tree is still up. I can’t seem to find the oomph to put the decorations away. It took me long enough to drag them out and put them up…it only feels like a week ago. All that effort expended and it’s over in the blink of an eye. Would it be so bad if the tree stayed up a little longer? It’s rather pretty perched in the corner, there.

I’ve been reading various posts on Facebook, along the lines of “2015 was a crappy year so here’s hoping 2016 will be a good one”. I remember reading similar things at the end of 2014. The thing is: every year will contain some deaths, some marriages, some births, some birthdays, some successes, some failures, some sicknesses, some recoveries, some funny things, some confusing things, some irritating things and some sad things. Some people will get to travel and others will wish they could, too. Politicians will make promises and not keep them. Some people will lose their jobs; others will find one. There’ll be fires, floods and droughts depending on where you live in Oz. Some places will have all three. That’s life, baby.

Every single day is a gift (that’s why it’s called ‘the present’). Cherish it. Love the people who are in it. Try to do a little good, a little kindness, wherever you are. What if this was the last day you have? Try to leave people with good memories of you. And, occasionally, eat some cake.

I hope you all have a wonderful 2016. However, in those times when life sucks, remember that you are special, you are unique, you are loved and, eventually, this too will pass.