Rant…postponed.

Welcome to a new year, as most measure it now.  I went looking for something to rant about this morning and couldn’t find much.  Oh, sure, there’s creationist museum seeking a tax break which I think is a Bad Thing, but I have already given an opinion on that.  I am sure I could find some conservative nonsense to ramble on about–there’s plenty around–but 2011 is barely three days old so I am going to give it a rest.  There will be fifty-one more opportunities this year for me to go off on those I find offensively stupid.

For today, I just want to wish everyone a happy new year.  What’s special about any new time frame but especially a new year is that it holds hope.  What is past is past and is often best put behind us.  What lies ahead is the promise of better times.  I foresee one dark date for myself this year, and that’s the anniversary of Danny’s death.  I also see hope for romance, for bettering myself, for improving my job situation, for getting things done I have put off for a long time.  I did that with my divorce last year; who knows what I might accomplish this year?

On Saturday, I listed off my goals for the year, things others might call Resolutions.  I don’t like that term in this case simply because it is so associated with failure.  I read a webcomic recently where a major character resolved to not make any resolutions.  By doing so, the character broke their resolution while making it.  Breaking resolutions is a running joke, of course, but underneath is a rather negative concept, that we set ourselves up for failure.  I prefer to set myself up for success.

To that end, I look at the positive things in my life.  I have two kittens in the house who regularly bring me giggles.  Over the next year, they will mature into cats.  The giggles may get fewer, but they will still bring warmth and a smile to me.  I have someone I love who I believe returns that love, and I hope that will blossom into something bigger.  I am planning a vacation with my children, something I haven’t really had in the past, and I have high hopes of that succeeding.

I also have high hopes for the goals I have set for myself.  I have already failed to start one of them this morning which I planned to do, but I will quietly ignore that negative start and simply view it as…postponed.

See you tomorrow.