Today, I write to wish you a happy new year on a very personal note; I am doing it just now, yes just now deliberately so.
Now that I feel we have all exhausted our ritual “Compliments of the Season, “Happy New Year greetings, etc. that are mostly done robotically to all the people on our list of friends, families, and other associates.
Let us face it, a lot of these greetings and the messages of good wishes and prayers that go with the greetings are done out of a sense of duty to revered individuals and benefactors, a quest for recognition, and a desire to be remembered by potential patrons, a craving to be associated with rising stars and trending villagers.
To each his own. I judge no one, rather I fully understand: These longings are practices and necessities borne out of tradition and genuine instinct of survival. It takes the grace of depth or the folly of delusion to lead a life free of these instincts of survival.
On a very personal note, as I was saying, my Happy New Year to you is to share with you images of very ordinary people doing simple things that have really struck me and in some cases inspired me in the years past.
Acts I share with you with the desire that you notice them too, even ponder upon them and perhaps celebrate them if you can.
Who knows, if like them we act when we can, we and the world might just be slightly better without a single shot of a gun.
Whilst others made their marks through battles of building castles and winning crowns or inventing tools and theories.
My heroes of the year past simply led their lives and gave me thoughtful smiles. My heroes of the year past are:
Those who love to sleep but still wake with good humor
Couples who still greet with a kiss or two
Those who do not delight in saying no
Those who work hard but even play harder
Those who thought in a hurry never honk at traffic lights
Those who when late never fabricate excuses
Those who can remember that you might just be in error
Those who mean what they say and say what they mean
Those who do not miss the flaws in their heroes and leaders
Those who leave their phones and TV to chat a bit with others
Those who are double happy when they get half
Those who wake up early to help a friend
Those who find time, to be honest with themselves
Those who remember that you might just be tired
Those who are formal but never miss the crux
Those who when sad, do not display anger
Those with the enthusiasm of a little child but with the wisdom of an adult
Those who call to say I was wrong
Those who remember to say now I understand what you meant
Those who see gloom only when it is dark
Those who don’t always try to make a point
Those who don’t wait for a thank you
Those who do not feel comfortable with not caring
Those who don’t wait for the new year to be a better person.
My very Happy New Year to you and all you care for.
Join me if you can @anthonykila to continue the conversation.
