Tuesday 31 December 2019

It's the Eve of a New Dawn in a New Decade

It is hard to believe that I have not written a blog in nearly 7 years. That's an awful long time of saying "I'll do it later".

With a new year waiting to dawn and the start of a new decade, I've given the blog a bit of a face-lift and my goal for 2020 is to capture more events and special moments in my life . This helps in not only keeping a record of treasured memories but also in evaluating how far I have come with the goals that I set each year.

I always seem to start the New Year with a list of things that I want to accomplish - read more, lose weight, manage my finances better etc. By the end of January, if I am still doing any of these things then I am doing well.

On thing I have managed to keep doing for over 2 years now is to do something to support a charity each month. This could be monetary contributions or volunteering. This has become something of a habit now and I hope to continue this for many years to come. There never seems to be a shortage of charities or people to help - just a lack of time or money.  I recently became inspired by someone and saw the good that they did. One person can make a difference and although you can't do everything, there is always something that you can do.

The dawn of a new day, year or decade is the ideal time to start afresh, don't dwell on what you didn't do but with a renewed determination, set about accomplishing the things you set your mind to. 

In the words of Tennyson:

Ring out, wild bells to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light. 
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells and let him die.
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new.
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
The year is going, let him go
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
The year is going, let him go
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring in the valiant men and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand.
Ring out the darkness of the land;
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Ring out the darkness of the land;
Ring in the Christ that is to be.


Farewell 2019.