Like many people I reflected on an amazing year as 2019 came to close. And at a personal level it truly had been a wonderful year full of incredible highlights, even if it also involved a fair bit of hard work. But given the bushfire emergency gripping our country, it felt gauche, almost tone-deaf to be sharing my usual post of celebration and gratitude. At the same time that I reflected on everything fantastic that had happened for me and my little family this year, people were scared for their lives as fires raced closer. This made me pause and wonder if it was really necessary to share. The first question I had to ask is whether 2019 was truly a year to be celebrating? And at the macro-level, even aside from the catastrophic bushfires, there were certainly developments that cause me concern and sadness. But this is not the first year the world has faced developing ecological and humanitarian crises, so I could have had this reflection in previous years too. I suspect the immediacy of the devastating fires hitting at the time I would normally be reflecting on the positives of the year just changed my perspective a little.
But gratitude for what is worth celebrating is important. There will always be an injustice in the world which could be reason not to celebrate if I juxtapose it against my own situation, but doing this would simply rob me of my opportunity for happiness for no real purpose. So for those who shared your happiness and gratitude for the year just passed, well done to you. I guess the important point for me is to be grateful for what I have, without forgetting those who suffer. So as my family begins another year and looks forward to what it has in store, let us first thank all the amazing friends and family who so powerfully enhanced our experiences of 2019 (with special mention to the people who shared the trip to The Blue Mountains with me). The year would not have been nearly as good without you. But let me also reaffirm my own commitment to continue to speak out and resist the dominant government/Murdoch Media spin to argue for what I believe is right, even when it puts strain on friendships. In my final reflection I turn to those friends close to me (and those who are not) who endured a difficult year in 2019. We will all have some years better than others. I truly hope your own reflection does not miss the positive experiences, even if difficult circumstances seemed to overshadow many of them, and that 2020 brings you a better year. Know that I will continue to offer support (some of you will actually get sick of it as I can be a little too persistent at times) in any way I can throughout the coming year.
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