Yes, you can decide to skip a trip altogether. There are many movie comedies about children not wishing to go along on the family vacation. The children resist but are forced to go along for what turns out to be a series of calamities. Of course, with movies, it all ends happily for the reluctant youth. Life is not always so simple, is it?

Sometimes the journey to a new destination involves loss and pain. There are some places that we cannot avoid because it is thrust upon us by life. Other times we think the new destination will bring one thing, but it often brings something totally unexpected. It may be good, bad, or indifferent.

Certainly, we cannot say no to the New Year. It is here, and we are in it. We can seek to make it a destination of hope and promise and not make it one of fear and loathing. Where do you see the road taking you this year?