These years are flying by

For 15 years I have penned a New Year’s Day article.  I made resolutions every year until last year, keeping some and breaking others.   The articles also had some reflections on each passing year.

As I enter my 72nd year, I realize there is not a lot of time to waste making resolutions. The resolutions I care about the most are pretty much the same each year.  I wish for good health for me and each of my family.  I want my children to thrive and find happiness. I hope my grandchildren follow their own paths and feel confident in the decisions they make throughout life.  

Having visited an operating room four times this year, I do not mind resolving to reduce that number significantly.  On the other hand, I can see clearly now from both eyes, and neither hip hurts any longer.  As for the gall bladder procedure, good riddance.

I cherish my friends and want to work hard to develop new friendships and deepen others.  When your life is so busy, even in retirement, you have to make a conscious effort to keep your friendships meaningful.  Well worth the effort, it seems to me.

I want to continue visiting the world with my spouse and travel partner.  We will visit our last continent in a year, and our bucket list adds new destinations faster than they are checked off.  I feel like we also want to discover new ways of travelling so that the journeys themselves evolve no matter where we go.

With our beloved Compass Lake cottage under a year-long renovation and addition, we are looking forward to spending good quality time at this place that has nurtured my family for seven generations.  There will be plenty of room for family and friends, so join us when you get the chance.

I hope to continue to deepen my faith, slowly learning from others through Bible studies, classes, and fellowship with like minded believers.  You are never too old to learn, no matter what your faith or beliefs.  

I have long resolved to write a letter a week and always seem to get distracted and fall short.  Perhaps a written letter or note once a month is sufficient just to keep me in practice.  

I have largely evolved into audio books, mostly on long walks or extended drives.  It is time for me to pick back up my love of reading actual books that you hold in your hands.  I already know which book will be first in this coming new year.

I will continue to seek the perfect recipe for cheese grits, the best bread at farmers’ markets, and most foolproof way to cook steaks for a family that wants them prepared every way from rare to well-done.  

After 15 years of resolving to lose weight, I finally did it.  It has cost a fortune to buy new clothes, which is one of my least favorite shopping chores.  I finally discarded my old belts, having no intention of sliding back.

I hope to watch my teams all have winning seasons, use my new battery-operated leaf blower regularly, and watch birds on my new bird feeder that sends pictures to my phone.  Of course, I have to remember to keep putting seed in the hopper. 

I resolve to pray for the leaders of our nation, city and state.  Lord knows they need those prayers as do we all.  I will also pray that we can find a way to find common ground on this divided turf we call home.  I resolve to grant grace to those whose opinions are different than mine and hope to have some meaningful conversations with them.

All in all, 2025 was a decent year.  I hope that 2026 brings you joy and peace along with fun and happiness.  Let us all resolve to do our own part to make it happen. 

o0o

Dan Ponder can be reached at [email protected]