As 2004 comes to a close and we look forward to a new year we often become involved in making resolutions for the upcoming Year. Why? What is a new year? It means we must write a new number, 2005, on our checks and letters. We get new calendars with different pictures which is always fun. But in actuality when the New Year begins the days continue on just like they did before with the exception of a new date and the new calendars.

Some time long ago a tradition began which said we were should make personal resolutions for the New Year. Most of those resolutions are never kept and a great many will be broken in the first weeks that carry the date 2005. If you surf around on the web you will find many sites that give suggestions on how to keep your resolutions. I have been successful one time in my life in keeping a New Year's resolution but most of the time I slip back into my old habits.

With last year being full of lots of change some good and some bad I have a different approach this year. Instead of forcing myself to change beginning January 1, 2005 I will continue my efforts to try to stay as healthy as possible and to live my life to fullest. Change will happen during 2005. I hope I will be able to cope with what ever happens in positive manner for me and the ones I love. They say change is the one thing you can guarantee will occur. After my 2004 experiences I believe that statement. My efforts are not going to be wasted making resolutions to be broken but will be spent on living one day at a time. Then when major change comes into my life all of my energy will be spent on coping and handling it the best I can. Is that a New Year resolution? My answer is NO for two reasons. One, I am not going to dictate to myself to do anything different in 2005 and two, whether I like it or not I cannot break it as change will happen to me and mine during the up coming year. We will have to deal with it and cope with it we will.

Happy Reading,

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You can find more articles in the archive under Island Miniatures/Lighthouse Letters.

I have three books which are directly related to this column. The Last Lighthouse tells how we bought our lighthouse, the day by day journal of a year at Eshaness entitled A Year in the Lighthouse and in Scottish Lighthouses our lighthouse is featured in the 31 lighthouses presented. You can find out more about these books and others I have written at my official author web site.