Serenity now!

I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year.

I'd like to. But, let's face it, this year just isn't going to pan out that way - my wishes be danged. You are not going to have an entirely Happy New Year. Some of you are going to have some major tragedies in your life this year, and all of you are going to have at least some minor ones.

You'll probably get sick at least once.

You'll resolve something big and then it'll slip away.

You'll resolve something small and then ignore it.

Someone or something you love may die.

A lot of people you don't know will suffer badly, and once again you'll try to muster up a little empathy before giving up and going back to your status quo.

You might even die, painfully, in a freak gasoline-fight accident.

Nonetheless, I would like to wish you something. So I will wish you the prayer that was on my lips when I woke up this morning: "May God grant you the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference."