A WALK IN THE PARK: I'm looking forward instead of back this year

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

This time of year many people like to look back and recall all that happened in their lives in the past 12 months.

I thought about doing that but, quite honestly, I can’t remember that much of what transpired since the beginning of 2012. In fact, sometimes I have trouble remembering what happened yesterday. I do remember that we had ahot summer and hardly any rain. There were surely some other big moments in the last year, but nothing is jumping out at me. I didn’t move, change jobs, buy a new car, travel out of the country or have any new grandbabies. Things stayed pretty much the same all year, best I recall, except that my body is a little stiffer when I wake up now than it was this time last year.

I probably wouldn’t remember even that, except I am writing this first thing in the morning when my neck doesn’t want to turn. After awhile, it will work itself out and I won’t think of it again until tomorrow morning. This is an example of the “up” side of not remembering.

With all that being said, I decided to focus on looking forward instead of looking back. This is easier because there are no specific details to recall. I can just dwell on all the memorable things that might happen. None of us knows for sure what is around the bend, so my guess is as good as any. In fact, sometimes my guessis better than some, even those who get a lot of media attention.

Take the Mayan calendar incident, for instance. I pretty much predicted ahead of time that there would be nothing to it. Thank goodness we didn’t get in a tizzy and sell the farm before the “world ended” on Dec. 21. That would have been awkward, especially if we’d had to ask to move in with one of our kids.

I am less sure in my predictions about some other media-worthy things. Take this fiscal cliff thing. I have no clue how it will turn out, and I am glad to know that by the time this goesto print, we will know if we went over it or not. When I think about the fiscal cliff, which I try not to do since it is out of my hands, I am reminded of my brother’s story about the time he and his buddies went over a waterfall in a canoe in the dark. They could hear water roaring ahead but didn’t do anything about it in time. It was intense for a while, but they all lived to tell the tale. I predict we will too, no matter what happens about the cliff.

In looking forward, only time will tell what the New Year will bring. I predict it will be much of the same with a few high points here and there, and maybe evensome low points. Some might even be remembered long enough to be the subject of my writing.

My main plan for the new year is to get up every morning and try to contribute to making things better, not just for me but for those around me too. I won’t get it right every time, but each morning will bring a chance to try again. That’s about as predictable as it gets.

Annette Rowe is a freelance writer from rural Gentry and a speech-language pathologist at Siloam Springs High School. She may be reached by email at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 01/09/2013