Fellow Anguillians, residents, and visitors, I bring to you this very special New Year message on behalf of the ATU, the Anguilla Teachers’ Union.
I can only imagine how many of you are still in the mood of festivity, perhaps sharing with friends and loved ones, the memories of your Christmas lightings, dining, gift-exchanging, serenading, partying, and the list can go on. And some of you may have nothing more than stories of mourning to share.
Whatever the case, a new year has dawned upon us. Typically, the New Year symbolizes renewal – a time for making resolutions. Many of you, I am sure, will pioneer new attitudes to health and fitness, family and spiritual life, workplace etiquette, and a host of other things. Many of you see the New Year as a time to flush your sorrows, break free of your past, and embrace opportunities, and even surprises which, may perceivably, make your life more meaningful. And this is all good.
However, in the spirit of celebrating and embracing “newness” I want to offer a new perspective to living life in the New Year. Yes, may I, like you, encourage optimism for 2016; may I encourage reflection; may I encourage planning; may I encourage change. But, let us not be so hurry to place 2015 on the backburner to the extent that we overwhelm ourselves with a host of plans and projects for 2016, and to the point of being robbed of actually experiencing the beauty of each new day.
Fellow Anguillians, the New Year is NOT an end or a beginning. Rather, it’s a continuation of life – only an added chapter to life’s book. Instead of throwing the past all away, and instead of being so wrapped up in New Year resolutions which, for the most part, we do not keep, may I encourage all of us to cherish it, while being careful to live for today because yesterday is over and tomorrow is yet to come. Why not wake up every day in 2016, embracing it for what it is: a new day with new opportunities, a new day for a new chance at life? Why not set goals just for that day and adjusting our sails to suit? And don’t get me wrong. I am not advocating against long-term planning. For this, too, has its place. What I am simply encouraging is a fresh way to thinking about life, to embracing, and living it throughout the year. For it is today that will form tomorrow, and it is tomorrow that will form the future. In essence, my dear people, I am simply encouraging you to live 2016 one day at a time. And this, I dare say, will be less work, less stress, and overall will lead to more healthy and wholesome living.
Friends, each new day in 2016 is an opportunity for you to clear your thoughts and refocus your energies. Just take time to breathe. Let not your plans efface the past, nor the present, but give extension to both. Meet each challenge with resolve and positivity. And more importantly, keep your responsibility to good citizenship and nation building in view. Our nation is ever-changing and evolving and new things are happening all the time. Demonstrate confidence in its future. And demonstrate confidence in your ability to make a positive contribution, no matter how small it may be.
In closing, I wish everyone the very best for 2016.
To all our students, whose lives teaching shapes, the ATU wishes you every success, and trusts that in 2016 through effort, training and hard work, you will find the place you aspire to and occupy at the heart of society.
To our senior citizens, to whom much is owed, we express gratitude, especially for your gift of giving us generations to come. Here’s hope of health and serenity for 2016.
And to my colleagues at all levels of the teaching fraternity, I say: In this New Year, let us not grow weary even as the challenges in and out of the classroom get tougher and tougher. Remember, shaping minds is our thrust! Building our nation – that we MUST!
Finally, the ATU remains committed to working with those whose business, action or work, will contribute to shaping the economic and social fabric of our society. We hope that all your efforts will thrive in 2016.
I wish you God’s very best, peace and love.
HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL!
Michelle Queeley
President (ATU)
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
