Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all who read this today 1 January 2017. What exactly is  'Happy New Year'? Does it happen by chance or can we do something to make it 'happy'?

Here's a recipe from an anonymous source for a Happy New Year.

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve fine, full-grown months;

see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancour and hate,

cleanse them completely from every clinging spite;

pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness;

in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean

as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts.

Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time

(so many persons spoil the entire lot this way)

but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work,

(some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest),

hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest

(leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it),

prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits,

a dash of fun,

a pinch of folly,

a sprinkling of play,

and a heaping cupful of good humour.

(Anonymous)

Happy New Year! And Happy 8th Day of Christmas!

Image Credit: Gellinger on Pixabay, CCO Public Domain