CLOSING OUT THE YEAR
I don’t historically do year end summation blogs. I’m always on the road this time of year and a bottle of champagne or some fireworks and a Happy New Year usually suffice.
But this has been a hell of a year on so many fronts.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s been terrific in many ways.
As I write this my family is all healthy. That is always numero uno on any list.
We are all moving ahead in our daily pursuits and for all of us it has been a year of individual triumphs.
And then it has been a year of big losses. And for those of us who value democracy, freedom of speech, world peace, a healthy environment, respect for other races and religions other than our own, women’s rights and on and on, it looks at the moment like we might be losing a lot of those things in the years ahead. So, for many of us it is a time of trepidation and uncertainty for what the future holds. And I’m a messily comedy writer so the answers to those bigger issues I don’t have.
I know for my family and myself we will face the year ahead focusing on work, staying close to each other and our friends. We will do good works and good deeds. We will reach out, and roll up our sleeves and work for causes that will likely suffer under the new administration.
But there are always bright spots and things to stay positive about. Staying in the moment! Not easy for me, but something I am working so hard on.
BE HERE NOW, to quote the great Ram Das. Even if the now is not what you want it to be, just being alive is a grand thing and something we should never take for granted.
As trite as that may sound, living in the moment is usually easier said than done. It takes focus, but it’s worth it.
We never know what lies ahead as the deaths this week and each week continue to teach us.
We lost some great ones this year. Bowie. Leonard Cohen and endless others. I have lost some close friends this last year. Suddenly and randomly, it takes the wind out of you and makes you realize how precious every moment is. BE HERE NOW.
In our family we lost two of our beloved dogs in four months. A sting that we still feel. But we now have two little bundles of dachshund puppy and they have reinvigorated our home with love and youth.
Glenn continues to thrive and closed a world news worthy deal by selling Bob Dylan’s archives this year. Taylor was made a junior agent at Writer’s House and fell in love in a big way. Her life moving rapidly into adulthood.
Lucy gets straight A’s and continues to astound with us with her intelligence, energy and curiosity. The kid is going places. But I hope not too fast.
I have been very quiet about it, but I went off the last month of 2015 and the first month of 2016 and wrote a spec TV pilot. I wanted to see if I still had it in me. I needed to see if I could do what I love the most and maybe work in that field again. I had few expectations – I just wanted to do what I felt I was the best at and see what happened. And thus far it’s working out well. I sold it and now we shall see where it winds up in the coming months.
Proving what I believe, that no matter what age you are, or what you have been through you keep moving forward. Keep working, keep doing, keep believing. One foot in front of the other. To quote Anne LaMott, “Bird by Bird.” Continue to dream your dreams and continue to pursue them. Be kind to others, be kind to yourself. Now more than ever.
I will end this on one of my favorite quotes, it is by Marie Brenner in her book Apples and Oranges – “Any day the doctor does not tell you it’s time to get your things in order is a good day.”
So, no matter what you are feeling in the year ahead, no matter what challenges we face as a country or individuals just hold on to that thought.
I wish you all a very Happy New Year.
I thank you for remaining loyal to me and this blog. You don’t know how much pleasure I derive from your emails, your comments and your hanging in there with me all these years.
BRING ON 2017!
