Happy New Year

Sarah Rennie - For so many, the New Year is a chance to reflect on the year just past and to look forward with optimism to the possibilities inherent in a fresh start. With much more than a hint of positive thinking, here’s hoping that the temperatures we saw during the last week of December and into the New Year are far from a preview of what we can expect for the remainder of winter. Certainly 2017 saw its share of dramatic weather both here and around the world, from our sopping wet spring and less than sizzling summer, to massive floods, drought fed forest fires, and devastating hurricane/monsoon seasons. Regardless of the debate swirling around the cause of such extreme weather driven events, we can be certain 2018 will come with a number of disasters, and we can only hope those in their wake are well prepared and resilient. This past year also saw escalations in world turmoil with horrifying terror attacks, reckless taunting between world leaders, refugee crises with slow international response, and the continued devastation of war torn communities. While so many of the issues plaguing people and their communities around the world are simply beyond our grasp or understanding, we can wish for an uprising of peace and love. Along with the sad, the bad and often unsettling news stories that emerged from 2017, there were just as many that made us smile. Stories that reminded us of the good, that inspired us, and helped us to believe change is possible. And so, welcome 2018. May you bring us all hope, peace, love and happiness, as well as the ability to spread these far and wide with our loved ones and beyond.