There is something very cathartic about the arrival of a new year. A new time frame, a clean slate, renewed hope, fresh promise. It creates an atmosphere very conducive to positive change, of our thoughts, beliefs, desires and behaviour. It’s the perfect time to review our patterns and preconceived notions and push the envelope a little, to see if we can’t be a just a wee bit kinder and a little less indifferent to the world around us. It’s an opportunity to reflect on days gone by, on one’s self, one’s achievements, one’s priorities, one’s aspirations and one’s methods and to re-evaluate them or perhaps change them altogether. It’s a time for forgiveness and for letting go of unhappy memories, anger and regrets.  And boy did we need this fresh start.

It seems that 2016, the world over, was marked by violence, suffering and division, ranging from the Syrian war to the rise of right-wing political groups stoking fires of division; terror attacks in Nice, Berlin, Dhaka, Orlando and elsewhere and the abhorrent brutality towards innocent animals in India, which appallingly has still not moved our Parliament to pass the much-needed revised Animal Welfare Bill.

On the bright side, 2016 got me together with several wonderful people and together we saved lives. Rescues, treatment, shelter, food, adoption- we managed to reach out to many animals who needed our help.

That’s what I’m bringing with me in to the New Year, along with a fiery zest to do more, help more, be kinder, more patient, more generous with my time and yes, to post regularly on my blog!

So here’s praying that Donald Trump either surprises everyone by getting things right or that he gets impeached before he can make too much trouble; that peace and order return to the world; that we as individuals find in ourselves the empathy and tolerance to co-exist with our animals and our environment.

Here’s wishing each and every one of you, your families and your pets a very Happy, Healthy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!