Terrible events happen all over thw world. The closer they are to us or those we care about, the more they cause us to stop for moments of reflection. And my reflection brings me back to the fact that the world is slipping further and further from what it should be.

On this first day of December, I wish to reach out from this cold dark computer and hug you. No matter what struggles you may face in this life, someone loves you. You may not always feel that way, but all of us is loved by someone. Even if you don't believe in God, you have been loved by a mother or a father or a grandparent or some unseen face in the crowd that admires you for your strength, wisdom, beautiful voice, smile, or other quality that inspires them or makes them smile. Please don't ever give up hope or try to steal it from others through violent actions. These things don't bring the same peave as helping someone less fortunate or just smiling at a stranger.

I want to remind the world of actions that make it a better place. I've been spending some time with a friend, helping her to compile some memories she wants to share with her children. Some days we have spent more time chatting than compiling more stories for the project, but at least we're having fun.

I keep convincing myself that I didn't accomplish anything. Despite this, I have addressed fifty cards and got them ready to bring darkness to the postal service. I have to feel sorry for them at this time of year. Why? Because I have four more packages ready to join them. Next, I need to tackle all the presents waiting to be wrapped and the list of gifts left to acquire.

Of course, as an honorary Santa's elf, I've made a couple of stockings this year, helped my tree stand tall, and carefully arranged my ornaments in a way that makes me think, "I definitely need more penguins." If you saw my tree and you were afraid of penguins, you'd crap yourself and most of my friends would laugh at you.

Despite continuing the tradition of making more candy and cookies than even a professional sweets monster could devour, my heart has felt shriveled and grinchy this holiday season. I baked more cookies, and taste-tested them, but that didn't seem to cause my heart to grow three sizes. I still managed to finish all my Christmas shopping and sing some carols, so I can't be too grinchy, right?

I still feel my heart wasn't in it, and I have evaluated it and re-evaluated what could make a hobbit-elf's heart shrink so much. I flash back to giving a gift to a young child and having him throw it on the floor in disappointment because he already had one. Since he was about three years old, it threw me for a loop. Usually kids in that age range are happy for any gift that they receive. The joy of opening brightly wrapped packages usually is enough to earn a mumbled "thank you."

We shouldn't raise our children to be ungrateful, but it seems more and more children are growing up that way. They'd rather get a gadget costing hundreds of dollars than make a car from a cardboard box. I find that sad since I enjoyed my cardboard box cars so much that I drove the infamous Omni for three years despite it having a worse engine than its cardboard counterpart.

As the cookies began to enlarge my heart, another individual informed me that gifts I gave them ended up in the trash after about a day of use. I recognize that when a gift enters the hands of the recipient, it isn't my problem anymore. However, since the gifts were bought to help them have money to buy other necessities, the casual pronouncement of their fate annoyed me, particularly since it followed a subtle hint to buy extra gifts this year.

Then I noticed a lack of response to my efforts to get together with friends. If you can't get together at the time I suggested or aren't available for the next three weeks, just let me know. Also, if you feel like our visits should be downgraded to the less stressful card exchange, that can be arranged.

The last day of the year is upon us. This is the day when I look critically at my attempts to improve myself according the exacting standards of my New Year's Resolutions. Let's see how I did in 2014, according to me.

2. Pick up the guitar at least once a week. This lasted for three or four months. Then I needed to change the strings. I still need to change the strings. Back on the list.

3. Sell some of my beautiful creations. I sold one journal and my services as a ghostwriter. This can still go back on the list.

4. Break ties that threaten to drown me in annoyance. Suddenly, my last post comes into perspective, doesn't it? Back on the list.

5. Continue to work toward a better, healthier me. I'm halfway back to my pre-wedding weight. That counts for something, but this one can still go back on the list.

6. Post to my blogs once a week or more. I think you know...

7. Keep weeding through the piles in my house, my email, and my brain. This one got touched one. Back on the list.

8. Rediscover a healthy, balanced diet. I got close on this one. I will incorporate it into number 5. So 1 new resolution.

9. Finish reading at least one book a month. I should probably aim higher.

10. Watch less television. Maybe this will be the year I stop being a couch potato? Definitely back on the list.

11. Write a page a day. Back on the list.

12. Keep better contact with the worthwhile people. I did a good job with this one and set a precedent for improvement. That makes 2 new resolutions for 2015.

13. Introduce my husband to another new vegetable. *rubs hands together maniacally* Introductions were made to more than one vegetable. He ate some squash and the dreaded brussels sprout though I warned him that particularly green wonder is not for the faint of heart. Three...

I better get back to partying. The new year is stampeding up the stairs. And my new year's kiss is waiting...