Wishing You a Rewarding New Year

Although you didn't hear from me, I hope you have all had a wonderful festive season as the old year slid away, to be replaced by a shiny new one.

Happy New Year to you all, my readers!I was bombarded with blog posts, e-cards and emails from businesses wishing me happy holidays and even suggesting ways to enjoy them.

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In the spirit of confession, while I appreciated the sentiments in these messages and had a few twinges of guilt that I hadn't blogged for over two weeks and hadn't crafted my clever or beautiful ode to the season, I wallowed in the sheer enjoyment of doing nothing, knowing that I'd pick right up when the time called for it. I knew it wouldn't make any real difference to the world out there if I didn't write, but that being available to my family and myself make a difference to us.

I hope 2012 is the year you would like it to be — while you can't fully anticipate the content of the year, you can create the attitude that will permit you to cope with whatever comes your way.

You can:

• create joy
• be grateful
• take things in your stride
• pause
• choose
• reflect
• seek to understand
• have fun
• cherish relationships that matter
• goof off
• make new friends
• dance
• celebrate life's occasions

I wish you a hugely rewarding and well-lived 2012!