The arrival of a new year is historically a time of reflection and introspection. It is a chance to take stock of our progress individually and collectively. My assessment of the current state of our world is about as bleak as it is unsurprising.

 

Humanity is once again on the brink.

 

War, famine, disaster, and strife fill our world. Discord, division, and violence are routine rather than exception. Throughout our history on this Earth, our prospects for continued existence have waxed and waned like the pendulum of an enormous grandfather clock. A clock that is ticking toward our eventual extinction.

 

History is filled with a repeating series of military conflicts, political upheavals, and plagues intermixed with times of calm and peace. Try as we might, we have been unable to stop the cycle. Despite thousands of years of intellectual and cultural achievements, it continues.

 

Growing up, as I did, in the late 1960s and 1970s, our world and country were unstable places to live. War in the Middle East, inflation, racism, Russian aggression, the threat of nuclear combat, drug addiction, recession, hostages, climbing interest rates, protests, violence on our streets, strikes, political scandals, etc. Fifty years later, I look around and see the very same things occurring again today. Like waves on a beach, we make advancements only to recede to where we began.

 

To make matters worse, in 2024, advancing technology has given us more access to information than ever before. Local, national, and international news and events are just a click away 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are bombarded with reporting that comes to us with excruciating detail in live high-definition video and audio.

 

Every news item is analyzed ad nauseam by numerous commentators with copious amounts of spin favoring the point of view of their particular viewership. Pundits with viewpoints from across the spectrum tell us what to think, who to blame, and when to be afraid.

 

Those responsible depend on which network, cable program, social media site, or podcast you follow. Our political parties' far right and far left wings compete to see who can shout the loudest. Opposing voices are conveniently silenced by staying comfortably within your preferred “journalistic” echo chamber.

 

The focus is, almost without exception, on highlighting the tragic, the extreme, and the devastating. We are overloaded with stories, articles, videos, and images focused on the worst of us and our most loathsome behaviors.

 

That, my friends, is a pretty grim evaluation of the current state of humanity.

 

Faced with such divisiveness, cruelty, and inhumanity in our world, what are we to do? A mindless and easy solution is to give in to the darkness. Join the masses who listen to and engage in the spread of fear, hatred, and bias. Accept the dreadful narratives spun by self-serving doomsayers. An easy enough path to follow. It seems countless people do.

 

Is there a better choice? Of course, there is. Be reasonable. Be respectful. Be rational. Be patient. Be kind. These are simple values. Their application in approaching all people and all situations can work wonders.

 

These principles, combined with identifying those things that are the most important in our lives, can shift our outlook from one that is malignant and unhealthy to one that is much more positive and uplifting. This change can be accomplished. It requires a little determination and resolve, but the results are worth it.

 

My plan is, and has been for quite some time, to focus on faith, family, friends, and community. Like puzzle pieces, they combine to form a complete and beautiful picture of what is truly important in our lives. You can’t bury your head in the sand about the rest of our country and the world, but you do not have to let it dominate, contaminate, and consume your life.

 

Focusing on faith is easy to do. Churches, organizations, and groups abound. Choose one that aligns with your beliefs and attend. Regardless of your choice of personal religious or spiritual persuasion, a sense of faith in those beliefs can bring comfort and peace to your soul.

 

Finding a way to keep that feeling throughout the coming year is critical and arguably the most problematic part. The solution is simple. Keep attending.

 

Traditionally, families and friends make a point of spending more time together during this time of year. Holiday dinners or parties, church and school concerts or plays, visiting neighbors and friends, and much more, our calendars can be filled with activities that bring us together.

 

However, many of these can be done year-round. Don’t reserve these activities for just the holiday season. Treasure your relationships with family members and friends every day. Make it a priority to spend time with them. The strength and support they provide can be invaluable.

 

The final piece of the puzzle is community. Find ways to become involved and participate in your community. Attend a parade, visit the public library, coach youth sports, join a community service organization, serve on a committee, watch a school play, volunteer at a food bank, walk through your neighborhood, or take in a local sporting event. The possibilities are endless.

 

The best choices involve allowing you to give something back to the community. Remember, it doesn’t have to be material or financial. The donation of your time or talents is often more appreciated and valued. In either case, the simple act of giving is just as rewarding to the giver, if not more, than it is to the receiver.

 

I have found great success in implementing my plan. While my plan may work in most communities, Bridgeport offers a unique range of organizations, events, and activities to be involved in and share with friends and family. As the motto goes, “Opportunity Lives Here.” Yet another reason I steadfastly believe in my theory of “Why Bridgeport?”

 

My “New Year’s Wish” for you is to find and stick to your plan to find peace and contentment in your life, wherever you live. Use my plan or develop one of your own. Strive to find a way to drown out the negatives and embrace the positives in your life, your community, and our world.

 

As we work to improve our circumstances and, more importantly, those of the people around us, the world becomes a better place for us all.