The start of a new year is a time for optimism. Everything bad that's ever happened is behind us, so how could anything but good lie ahead? Well, of course, we don't know what lies ahead, but we have no reason to look for dusky shadows in the light of a new dawn.

So let the good times roll. Let's assume that the markets will recover and the economy will stay strong. Let's say our new president will live up to his promise to serve all the people. Let's hope for peace where there's now war, prosperity where there's poverty, freedom where there's oppression. And let's do what we can to make all those hopes real.

My only personal resolution for the new year is to stop spending money recklessly on things I don't need. I'm not making any promises to myself beyond that one, but I do have some goals that I hope to achieve this year. They're the same goals I have every year, but I'm always optimistic, and this year is no exception.

This will be the year that I eat better, exercise more, get out of the house more often and spend more time with other people. This year I'm going to be better organized and work more efficiently, so that I have more time away from work to do things I enjoy. I'm going to read more, watch less TV, and spend more time outdoors.

You might not believe this, but I have total faith that I'll do all those things, my past record notwithstanding. I always have high hopes, and I've always fallen short of my own expectations. But if I expected to fail, I'd never have a chance. I expect to succeed, just like every year.

Now, all this rosy spewage is seeping from the brain of a man who stayed up too late last night, watching other people having fun on TV. I've had a cold (or something) for two weeks, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better (but at least it's not getting worse). I worked all day yesterday and will spend most of today working. The shower knob fell off and hit my toe this morning.

And, let's face it, bad things are going to happen. We'll lose some battles, and some friends. It's the way the world works, because time keeps trudging forward, regardless of calendars and our best intentions. But we keep fighting those battles, and we treasure our friends all the more, knowing that time will eventually separate us.

But that doesn't mean we dwell on what might happen. Live every day as if it's your last? I don't think so. Live every day as if it's your next best chance to start reshaping the world the way it should be. In that sense, New Year's morning is no different from any other day.

And now, I need to take another pill and get back to work. Happy new year.