The end of another year. What is your best memory from this year? Or how you celebrate the end of a year.
I know, I know, the approach of another year is the perfect time to reflect back on what took place during the past year, and to do a bit of a stock-take. Trouble is my memory isn’t as keen as it should be and tends to latch on to something and refuse to move on to other things.
Luckily for me there has been a major event that no grandparent could forget.
It would be better for me if New Year didn’t so closely follow Christmas because I get stuck in the glow of Christmas. And this year was one of those special ones when there is a new family member to add to the joy.
Celebrations? I guess I will celebrate the end of the year as I have lived it – quietly. Which is exactly how I like it. I find that living a quiet, simple life means I enjoy the occasional special events more than I would if it were just another outing.
The Rugby World Cup was a highlight, not just because it was enjoyable following the tournament from the comfort of my lounge chair (and attending one game) but because my younger son (and an English niece) was in the country to celebrate his 40th birthday. Nothing lifts my spirits like my family having fun together.
I’ve never truly understood the point of New Year's resolutions. So this year, I'm throwing out the whole idea of resolutions. I'm not saying there aren't plenty of things I need to change. I'm just not going to waste a lot of energy thinking about them and trying to make a plan on how to change things. While I'm still enjoying all the beautiful memories made at Christmas, I'm going to choose instead to enter the new year being thankful for what I have.
I have just one resolution, to return again to the west coast of the Far North where this year, during the mid winter break my friend Chris and I enjoyed, I felt a real sense of euphoria.
So that's it for another year. It's had it's highs for some of my family and it's lows for others but it's over, there are new beginnings ahead.
The rest of the Friday Shoot Out Team will be posting their "The End" shots here.
I wish everyone a great new beginning for 2012.