May 2010 include growth and love for others

It’s that time again. Here we stand on the brink of a brand new year, thinking of resolutions, some to which we will strictly adhere, some of which we will discard after only a few subsequent minutes. Regardless, we will do this again and again each year with the primary goal of bettering ourselves.

And usually, I would use this opportunity to persuade you to engage in some type of deep self-evaluation, to encourage you to look deeply into your own being, along the way concocting some sort of secret recipe for a new take on life. But this time, I felt these words should truly say something during this holiday season, something worth saying. So, I ask that we momentarily erase ourselves from our minds and wholeheartedly reflect upon the lives of others. This editorial, then, is a commemoration, a solemn remembrance of lives worth remembering, especially during such a sacred holiday season. Here’s to all of you:

1. To the men and women in our armed forces and their families, may you always carry that American pride deep within your souls, remembering that you hold an indispensable position of honor, a position filled only by a special person, someone fueled by more than just patriotism. And may all Americans refuse to become indifferent to your heroism.

2. To the young and the old and all those in between, may the young preserve that childlike innocence. May the old ever share their impeccable wisdom and find that unfailing youth residing inside. And may all those in between never dwell on the past, but rather, learn from it, boldly pressing on into the future.

3. To the children and adults who have not the faintest idea of what it’s like to be surrounded by love, may each one find what I so often take for granted.

4. To the diseased and distressed, may each one discover the strength to make it another day.

5. To the brokenhearted, may you rise from the ashes of pain and hurt to uncover personal beauty and a healing heart.

6. To the ones who are always there, may your thoughtfulness never go unnoticed and your compassion always be reciprocated.

7. To the ones who had to leave us, may you always know you’re missed, and may we always hold tight to your memory.

8. To the American citizens struggling to survive in the economy, may you keep the determination to thrive, taking one step at a time.

9. To the lost and forgotten, may you be found.

10. To the believer, may you always stand firm, and may no one ever deprive you of your hope.

11. To the shy ones, may the world appreciate all that you say when you don’t speak.

12. To the socialites, may you always be the life of the party, and may your words change someone’s life for the better.

13. To the shining stars, may you continue to shine.

14. To the underdog, may your day to shine come.

15. And finally, to all of us, regardless of our circumstances, may we help one another find our place in this world.

Here’s to 2010. May we personally grow as we grow in love for others. If any one year required that of us, this is the year.

Melissa Grubbs of Bainbridge is a junior at Thomas University and a secondary education major.