This year will be like last year in many ways. It will bring hopes, fears, dreams, tears. Follow those will come enlightenment, awareness and experience.

Hard work will lead to many rewards. Some times, though hopefully rarely, hard work will not yield the appropriate results. Other times, however, boons will appear thanks solely to Capricious Fate. We must remember these latter surprises to warm us through our former disappointments.

We will touch many hearts, and be touched by many more. Each day we live, we will encounter friends-to-be. The wise among us will perform the necessary alchemy of the heart to turn those into friends. May we all be so wise. I can always find room in my heart for more friends.

Those among us fortunate to encounter adversity with friends will learn the magic that is to rely on others. Yes, a true friend can turn adversity into a fortunate happenstance. I've had cause to learn this many times this past year. It makes the drink no less bitter, but friendship allows me face it over and again.

Some trials will repeat themselves in this coming year. Some others will pass, having tested us to their full measure. For each that is expended, another stands ready to tempt, to tease, to try and to torment.

This past year made us more of who we are. Stronger, wiser, more loving. May this coming year continue honing us.