As 2013 comes to a close and we look ahead into the New Year – 2014 – a precipice comes to mind.  Life is a balancing act and, in some ways, never more so than now…. The pot is coming to a boil – no, this is not the first time mankind has faced such a situation.  But that doesn’t make our current situation any less significant.

Where do we go from here?  Back to the dark ages of narrow-mindedness, exclusion, intolerance, warfare, bigotry and “winner takes all”, or forward into the next stage of embracing our similarities and differences, to re-connection, tolerance, acceptance and humanity?

To counter all the negative, depressing headlines, news stories and statistics creating so much noise and taking up so much of our space, time and energy, I would like to share a few of the most heart-warming, positive, significant, forward-moving pieces I have come across this year.  Of course there are many, many more similar to these…….

I invite you to check them out in the hopes that they will inspire confidence in our ability as a human race to have the positive outweigh the negative and to prevail….

In the spirit of health and healing, I wish each of you a very Happy New Year!!

Pope Francis condemns racism, and declares that “all religions are true:” http://diversitychronicle.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/pope-francis-condemns-racism-and-declares-that-all-religions-are-true-at-historic-third-vatican-council/

Watch these little girls in Afghanistan skateboard – it’s a thing of beauty! http://www.upworthy.com/watch-these-little-girls-in-afghanistan-be-better-at-skateboarding-than-youll-ever-be-2

A church told it’s Pastor he couldn’t preside over his gay son’s wedding – his response: http://www.upworthy.com/a-church-told-a-pastor-that-he-couldnt-preside-over-his-sons-wedding-he-responded-like-a-dad

A photographer persuades strangers to do something really odd.. http://www.upworthy.com/a-photographer-persuades-strangers-to-do-something-really-odd-and-they-totally-love-it

Accomplished chef shuns six-figure salary to feed and serve the needy. http://www.upworthy.com/fancy-chef-cooks-up-yummy-meals-for-less-than-a-dollar-and-his-life-lessons-are-delish