Dear Reader:

With the New Year growing closer and closer… don’t we all want reassurance that ” 23″ will improve upon ” 22″ ? That everything ( really) will be okay?

Growing up… how many times in our childhood did we ask a parent, relative, or trusted adult this question? Or how many times did we get this same reassurance from a parent when things went wrong in our lives… physically or emotionally?

And even though we realized, as we grew older, that no one could promise this reassurance happening ( especially imminently) the words still comforted us.

Of course the reality is… the short answer is ” YES” … the longer answer is more complicated… but still yes! Bad things will continue to happen … we will continue to have bad days… BUT , in the midst of bad things and bad days, there will be good things and good days.

Our universe constantly seeks balance and will always ” right itself.” We can’t go through life without experiencing heart break, pain, and understanding that world injustices exist… but the reality is… There is more good than bad in the world.

Anthropologists explain how humans have been programmed with a ” negativity bias” in order for our species to survive. Thus it’s harder for us to remember positive blessings

So it helps if we make a list of all the good things in our lives. The world is full of reasons why ” Everything will be okay.”

Mahatma Gandhi once said: ” When I despair, I remember that throughout history… the way of truth and love have always won. Tyrants and Murderers , who temporarily seemed invincible, fell in the end…. ALWAYS!”

Psychiatrists , when dealing with patients in deep depression moods, gives the client one question to ask themselves -it always produces an ” Aha” moment.

” If you could be re-born at any time in human history, BUT you wouldn’t know where or when you’d be born, or what race you would be, whether or not you’d be able- bodied, or how much money your family would have… well guess what? You would absolutely choose the time moment in history you’re living right now...today!”

So until tomorrow… While the world is far from perfect- the world is a better place for the greatest number of people than at any other time in human history. The fact that the world has slowly but surely gotten better, means the future will be better too.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

And speaking of growing… Look at Rhea!