Happy New Year from Wellington, New Zealand and Auld Lang Syne

Another beautiful, glorious day in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. The sun shone down on us bright and warm. The usual fresh to gale force winds subdued to light breezes.

The promise of a new year beckoning, or perhaps a delightful end to what had become a very challenging decade for many people, myself included; only time will tell.

This time of year, do I reflect on the past 52 weeks, and consider the what-ifs and if-onlys? Hell no, as I am not able to change anything that has happened. What is in the past remains in the pages of history. Please do not spend more than a few fleeting moments on the could-have-beens, especially now when most of us keenly await a new decade of challenges.

I am reminded of something George Washington once said, "We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience." Source: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/4356.George_Washington?page=2

Yes indeed, let's turn those moments of past errors into the pursuit of profitable experience. Here on the Steem platform, with so many different tribes and activites we can benefit from, we are certainly well placed to profit from our interests.

So, what does the new year offer myself? Too early to tell just yet, although I have a hand-me-down smartphone on my desk as I write this article, just waiting to be activated. I'm really keen to try out the APPICS application on that smartphone. Also, there are a few payment processors I need to get authenticated using a smartphone. Yep, I've a feeling the first two or three weeks of Year 2020 will deliver a lot of opportunities for me to make the most of what I suspect will be another awesomely challenging year.

Please leave a comment at the end of this article, about how you expect the first few weeks of the new year will pan out for you.

Just half an hour to go now, and we'll leave behind the Teens and enter the Twenties. A hundred years ago, the 1920's were known as the roaring twenties. Here's hoping this time around, they'll be known similarly; a time of excitement and growth.

Wherever this article finds you, may you enjoy the last few moments of 2019 - hopefully you are in the company of your loved ones - and may you safely celebrate the dawning of a new decade.

Happy New Year from Wellington, New Zealand and Auld Lang Syne.

Ian Ballantine
Wellington, New Zealand
December 31, 2019.

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