Next Year

 Dear Barry, 

  I was thinking the other day about how I miss our talks about music. More specifically, I miss my ability to bounce my opinions off you on the quality of whatever music I was currently listening to. Usually I'd be wrapped up with a song that I thought was particularly poignant and you'd kindly explain to me the formulaic nature of the beat and lyrics that evoked the same response as a Nicholas Sparks' novel with as much substance. 

  Case in point, there's this song I've been into for a while now, and I'd really like you're opinion on whether I'm onto something or if it's just a piece of ear candy that'll leave me with lasting nourishment. 

So there it is. I'll await your response but until I hear from you, I'll keep enjoying it especially as I think it could be 2020's anthem. So many races, events, trips, even marriages and political normalcy were put on hold indefinitely with this vague next year. 

Next year is such a conniving little beast too. Not too far away, it can easily wrap you up in the security of the almost without giving you anything tangible in return. Far too often, I've seen others(and been a victim myself) fall prey to next year's false promises. It becomes so easy to say, next year will be when I [blank} which gives you the comfort of near action with the satisfaction of having a plan while doing nothing and often getting nothing in return. 

Don't get sucked in! While it's good to have some future plans, we so often lose sight of all the little miracles of each and every day. As I type this, Matilda is sleeping in the other room. I can tell you, there's no easier way to stay in the moment than watching that little tasmanian devil sleep. I know you're pretty good at staying in the moment so I'm preaching to the choir, but I feel that if I write it down it'll be more easy to act on it every day. 

Next year hopefully will be much better for so many people, but I am not planning on waiting and plan to continue to seek out joy in each of these last few months of 2020. 

Hope you can too.

Until next time,

Danny