2007: The Year That Was

The new year is here, 2008, the saying time flies will be most appropriate for 2007, well at least for my 2007. The start of the new year, where are we? Some of us may still be in shock that it is another brand new year, some are raring to go and face the brand new year full of hopes, expectations for a better year, some are just waiting for the fulfilment of a dream, a holiday, a wedding, achieving personal growth or simply moving on. While some just don’t care, it’s just another new year, there’s no instant miracle or instant change that can happen, it would be nice if by the stroke of midnight things will instantly or magically change, that everyone can have a do over, or a restart and start fresh, that all the bad experiences, financial obligations, debts, personal tragedy, bad decisions and mistakes can be erased and be able to start fresh, wouldn’t that be nice?

But no, as we all know we’re stuck with the things that we have done in the past year, we will have to continue to deal with it whether we like it or not, we will have to go back to work which some of us hate, to a relationship where we’re trapped and unhappy and we will have to make do with what we have financially. So really what does the new year brings? Is it hope or is it just a reminder that we have to hurry to achieve what we have set to do, that time is ticking and we have little time left before another year begin.

Looking back in the year that was 2007, what have I learned? To start with I have become cynical this year of the holidays, Christmas and New Year, somehow, somewhere in 2007 the magic, the spirit got lost, whether it is the stress of the season, the continuing commercialization or just the busy lifestyle we lead, I have lost it. It will be hypocritical to pretend that you still believe in the spirit of the season when you don’t, it is most difficult for us parents with kids, kids who still believes in the magic and the spirit of the season. But somehow we have managed to keep the magic alive for them and that’s what matters which brings me to the second lesson I learned in 2007, my kids are now a person of their own, they do not need me or us as much as when they were younger, we have learned things from them that only they can teach or show, things that adult tend to take for granted or sometimes don’t pay attention to, they’re more fun now that they can banter and they have their own sense of humor and most importantly I see a piece of me in them.