The New Fear is Here

About one year ago to this day, I made a couple of New Year's resolutions (how charming). Can't remember all of them, but here are the 3 that stands out.

1. Get to Officer Candidate School. ( That time I was still in basic training. )

2. Lose the tummy.

3. Get a girlfriend.

Let's see where I stand one year on.

1. Now a lance-corporal in Guards. (God.)

2. Still have the flab.

3. Yep, you guessed it, still single.

This sucks.

They say God works in mysterious ways. Wow. If all these are a test, its a tad too cruel. Guess its all my fault then. Sigh.

Sometimes these resolutions are really, well, irritations rather. Hardly anyone I know ever achieves them. Either that, or they are keeping mum. Which is.... unlikely. Who wouldn't want to boast about it?

But the charming thing is, the basis of all resolutions is hope. And dreams. Looking at the past year, I daresay we all need hope. Earthquakes, contaminated food, renewed conflicts in parts of the world, the current financial crisis.... the list drags on and on.

We could say that the year 2009 would be a lot worse, with nothing to hope for. After all, 2009 would merely be inheiriting the evils that 2008 birthed. But many of our troubles are caused by no factor other than ourselves. And if there is one thing we can be certain of, they will have to be resolved by us.

The world is not a perfect place, never will be. But it can be made better, for it was made better, by generations before us, living, hoping, dreaming, keeping the worst of mankind's faults at bay. Sometimes they failed, as in the Holocaust. More often than not, they succeeded, when apartheid in South Africa was defeated.

We owe it to ourselves, if not to them, to continue the legacy that has been built up. To hope and dream, and finally create, something better, for us, and for the future.

Happy New Year, everyone. May your wishes come true.