Editor’s Letter James

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t the stroke of midnight on December 31st, we finally shelved one of the most challenging years in generations, 2020. I heard it time and again throughout this past holiday season. “I can’t wait for this year to be over,” my family, friends, and colleagues often said. And who can blame us? Between a pandemic, economic upheaval, social unrest, political division, all manner of struggle and strife, and the loss of more than several national entertainment treasures…(roll “In Memoriam” clip, which will include the likes of John Prine, Kobe and Gianna Bryant, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Toots Hibbert, Carl Reiner, Vera Lynn, Chadwick Boseman, Eddie Van Halen, Sean Connery, Regis Philbin, and Alex Trebeck to name a few…shed tear)…is it really any wonder why we reflected upon and celebrated the end of this past year?

What will 2021 bring to the table? Beyond our good intention attempts at various New Year’s resolutions, I must confess I’m a believer that a year versus year vision isn’t quite an accurate or meaningful way to purpose oneself and live one’s expectations for the future. The sun rises and sets the same each day, regardless of the Gregorian Calendar. Though each year starts “fresh,” we’ll inevitably experience happiness, joy, sadness, and struggle in the coming months. “Good times, bad times, you know I had my share,” Robert Plant sang many moons ago. The strikes and gutters of life will most certainly abide this year, as they did last. So, what are you expecting for this year?

A new president is scheduled to be inaugurated, but will your day-to-day truly change? Probably not. Will there be celebrity and political scandals in the news? You bet. And the pandemic has certainly altered our livelihoods, but we’re coping, hoping, and willing to do what it takes to emerge stronger and more resilient come 2022 and beyond. In fact, some new, good habits have probably emerged from these challenging times that we can carry into our lives long term (are handshakes a relic of the past?).

I suspect that the key to creating a bit more happiness this year than last boils down to developing good, healthy, and purposeful habits that carry over day to day, month to month, and year to year. Only then, by living a life ingrained with purpose and clarity, can each of us create the year and years ahead that we want for ourselves, our families, and communities. We have and can continue to do this, no matter if the year is 1971 or 2021. Dialogue and debate on how to better achieve more meaningful, resourceful, and ethical communities (neighborhoods, cities, states, our nation) can and should be had.

I was discussing this idea with our publisher Veronica Tovey recently. She mused on how dinner table conversations between politically polar-opposite family members used to be lively, vigorous, meaningful, and could even be fun. It seems we’ve lost that sense of healthy debate. I say, let’s bring it back.

So, beyond the generic goal of “losing a few COVID pounds” this year (and hopefully I can, LOL), how will you (and I) make this year any different than the last? May I suggest we start with listening well, learning more, and developing a touch more empathy among us? All lifelong habits that can carry us, together, year over year and beyond.

For me, personally, I’ll aim to “practice what I preach.” I could definitely do a better job of that. I know so…my wife has been saying it to me for years.

Happy New Year,

James Houck, Editorial Director