A time to rekindle important relationships

Each New Year brings the promise of hope, a chance for new beginnings and an opportunity to focus on the future. Perhaps some of the dreams that we have been cultivating will come to fruition.

It is my belief that this community is on the verge of some bright tomorrows. We have but to reach out and find our niche.

As we reflect on 2007, we each remember the challenges, the disappointments and the blunders. We will also think about the what if’s and could have beens, but we should also cerebrate the good things, the successes that have come our way.

All too often we waste valuable energy lamenting what we perceive as our faults and failures, energy that could be much better spent creatively addressing a problem or concern. Those who do not experience setbacks are individuals who never take risks. Great things are often the result, when people fearlessly jump in and make it happen.

Our community is blessed with many voluntary associations, service groups, congregations, and individuals who each in their own way have had a positive impact.

There are times when all the money in the world cannot compensate for the caring person whose kind smile or tender words bring comfort at a critical juncture.

Winston Churchill wrote: "Friends may have differences; they may have disagreements; they may have disputes. But in times of difficulty, in times of hardship, friends stand together, side by side; they support each other and help one another."

In our rural community, we also have an opportunity to fill our lives with this invaluable gift. It is through our friendships that we attain our greatest legacy.

New Year’s is also a time to rekindle our relationships with the significant people in our lives. All too often, the daily pressures of getting it done overwhelm us and we forget who we are doing it for and why it is so important.

Our children, our spouses, our parents and our siblings can get lost in the maze of our very demanding world. Making the time is well worth the effort.

Over the last year I have been delighted with your feedback. I am aware that on many occasions I hit a subject that you felt needed to be explored. It is always gratifying to hear that you found my efforts thought provoking or insightful, but I was particularly pleased with some of your suggestions. Keep them coming!