As the world shakes off the dreariness of winter and blossoms into the color and fragrance of spring, we, too, have the option of charting a new course, one full of hope and promise – a new start.

Tuesday, July 13, 1999

As the world shakes off the dreariness of winter and blossoms into the color and fragrance of spring, we, too, have the option of charting a new course, one full of hope and promise – a new start.

No matter how bad the last few months have been for your family, this is your time to step back and take a look with an eye to making a change.

And today is the first day of that journey.

Life is too short to let the disappointments of the past destroy the promise of the future. Bad luck until now should not be taken as a sign that there is no reason to try again.

The same is true for a family that has been divided by an outside enemy or from within. Don’t let another day set on the bitterness and disappointment that accompany a squabble.

Take today as your first chance to share a special moment with someone you love or to simply reach out to someone who has been absent from your life for a long time.

The journey back begins with a small step. Today, take that chance.

The same principles that hold true for an individual also can apply to a community. Ironton has had a hard year, but the future can be as bright as we decide it is going to be.

As you celebrate the joys of the past year and the people who add something special to your life, remember your hometown, too. Devote some time today to thinking about how you can make it better. That might be the first step toward a bright future.