By Chris Quilpa

2020 is (almost) here. How happy and excited, or anxious, are you to welcome the new year?

Or, are you still reliving last year’s events and happenings — local, national, or international, personal or otherwise — with a feeling of joy or sadness, anxiety or anticipation, anger or fear, fun or frustration, dismay or disappointment, hopelessness or hopefulness?

Are you anticipating changes to come, challenges and obstacles to overcome in your life? Or, are you declaring: Come what may. Que sera sera; whatever will be, will be. Live and let live!

Amidst the chaos and distractions everywhere, continue with the business of living, loving and managing your life. You have your life to live, dreams to realize, wars to fight or manage, issues and concerns to resolve, and things to sort out.

2019 is (almost) gone. Move on and focus with your life in the present moment. Do what matters most in your life. Do what you can do now, and not later on, to feel better, safe and sound, happy and healthy, and contented. Try to make others feel better about themselves, too, if and when you can. With a positive mindset, you can still make a difference in the world. Because you have a voice and a choice, you still matter, and are relevant to the changing times.

Welcome 2020, with faith, hope, gratitude and optimism, realizing there are things you cannot control beyond your understanding and capabilities. But with faith and conviction and a sense of responsibility towards yourself and others, you become an asset, rather than a liability, to the community.

Have faith that your life and your world will be better. Believe that your condition will improve, that changes and challenges will be overcome with grace and certainty. Be grateful that you’re alive and well, and living, and loving and enjoying your freedom and liberty.

Every day holds the promise of a new beginning. Hence, a new year could mean a new life, a new beginning, a fresh start at life, and a new attitude or perspective to consider. For as long as you have life, and your mind healthy, sound and sensible, you have the will and the power to do what it takes to do better and succeed.

You have decided to overcome whatever obstacles coming your way. You have come to realize that change is inevitable in life and so are challenges. Therefore, you have made up your mind to accept change and move on, challenging yourself to never give up. With hard work, optimism, perseverance and sacrifice, you will eventually get better and succeed in life.

What’s in store for you and me in 2020? The truth is, there will be challenges ahead, and obstacles to face and overcome. But, of course, there will be opportunities along the way. And it’s up to you to grasp or grab, or let go of them.

Remember, though, that there will be commitment, communication, compromise, collaboration, cooperation, companionship, like in love and marriage, politics and government, education and health care, business and management, leadership and governance, and any human endeavor or relationship that contributes to the betterment of humanity.

There will be fake news and disinformation or misinformation. There will be education and miseducation, chaos and calmness. In the end, truth will come out. Peace and justice, law and order prevail.

There will always be songs to sing; news, novels and books to read; stories to tell and share, music to enjoy and appreciate, memories to cherish and keep.

There will be bold endeavors to undertake, decisions to make, and plans to implement, and laws to obey and observe.

With a new year, life goes on. For as long as you have life, there’s hope. There’s light; there’s love.

From my family to yours, wishing you a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous new year! May God bless us always!

Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.