As we come to the end of calendar year 2021, I imagine that you, like me, have mixed emotions about the coming New Year.
There is no doubt that 2021 did not turn out the way we expected it to. Aside from the obvious continuing concerns over the staying power of this pandemic, which affects our daily lives, our children’s education, our economy and more, so much else of concern happened as well this year:
An attempted insurrection at the Capitol to subvert the presidential election results.
Continued gun violence, with the national shootings of unarmed people of color and the local surge of shootings here in Philadelphia.
Growing concerns over the effects of global warming, as evidenced by the exponential growth in extreme weather events across the globe.
Continued enmity between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors.
An alarming rise in antisemitic acts, both in the United States and around the world.
The list could go on; I’m sure many of you have your own lists as well.
2021 was a year of extreme stress for all of us because of the upheaval in our lives; it has taken an emotional toll on us all.
What does the new year portend? I am not a fortune teller: I don’t have a crystal ball and I don’t read tarot cards. So while I cannot predict what 2022 will bring us, I can offer the following:
I hope that the coming year will be a better one for each of us, whatever that means and however it plays out. Be it better health, better personal lives, or professional lives, be it happiness or good fortune, be it a renewed sense of purpose, be it a respite from the unrelenting pressure we have all felt, may all that we hope for come to pass.
And yes, an end to the pandemic, a reversal of global warming, a renewed sense of civility and mutual respect, a world of peace and quiet - we’ll take those too.
Happy New Year!