It’s the beginning of a new year, and winter is in full swing here in Georgia, at least, what we call winter here in the South. All around town, the oak and maple trees are bare, their limbs reaching toward the winter sky, absent the luscious leaves and blooms that adorn them during the more amiable seasons. The nights are chilly, hosting brilliant stars that light up cold, clear skies. But even now, the days are mild, boasting sunshine warm enough to beckon us outdoors.
There is always a feeling of anticipation in the air during this time of year. The new year brings with it hope and anticipation for what is to come, and, often, a renewed sense of purpose. With so much that was so wrong with last year for so many, we now find ourselves making plans that will surely make this year better. For some of us, it’s a chance to repair and replace all that has been broken and missing. While for others, it’s a time to re envision where we’re going, to complete what we’ve started, or, perhaps, to start over anew.
But whatever direction we choose, this new year is a blank canvas waiting for us to provide the pallet with which we will paint our story. And for many of us, that means painting a whole new picture. The prospect of change can bring a feeling of excitement, but it can also be unsettling and, sometimes, mean making choices and decisions that aren’t easy to make.
