My New Year's Message - 2015

6:30 am New Year’s Eve – sitting on the stairs out back watching a howler monkey climb through the trees.  We haven’t had monkeys here in 2 years, but this one started howling yesterday at sunset and picked up again at 5:00 am.  Only one that I can see, and he is way in the jungle so photos are just dark and shadowy.  Hopefully a sign of a good year to come.

It is very hard to believe that 15 years ago we were sitting waiting for the world we knew to crash around us that the Y2K ‘bomb’ hit.  Those of us responsible for services and infrastructure spent the day and through the night in ‘command centres’ monitoring events, checking systems, and largely feeling like fools as we quickly came to understand that nothing bad was going to happen - - all dressed up and no place to go!

That really does seem like a lifetime ago.  Half of my son’s life – as he turns 30 in a few weeks.  In the intervening years the world has seen things that have seemed unimaginable – 9/11, the Katrina devastation of New Orleans, the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and the global economic meltdown.

Perhaps it is a result, or just another happening, but the new millennium has been highlighted by divisiveness, fear and hatred.  In politics, war, social encounter . . . life in general.

America was the land of the free and the home of the brave – now, the place of ultra conservative republicans v. hedonistic democrats.  Canada was proud of a socially progressive society within a fiscally responsible framework – now the social safety net has fallen victim of personal protection and the haves take more from the have nots.  Occupy and Anonymous scream about the 1% that control 50% of the wealth – yet interestingly, the top 10% of the 1% are some of the most progressive and socially minded folks on the planet.  We need to stop looking about to cast blame and start with ourselves and our communities to create positive change.  Our political processes are broken because that is what we have told our politicians we want and expect – division and anger – you can’t have what you want if that means I don’t get what I want - - what happened to compromise for the greater good – despite how it has been viewed in recent years, it is not a loss for everyone.  Kindness and generosity should always be 'in fashion'.

The monkey made me happy and thoughtful – perhaps everyone just needs a monkey to distract and engage them!

So, as 2015 is upon us, I look forward to happier days, healthier ways, less stress and more monkeys.

Happy New Year to friends and family – love you all.

Dan