New Year's Day message.
So here we go. Are you ready, set then let's go. Happy and Healthy New Year to the whole world wherever you are and whoever you are. There can be no hint of discrimination, no room for bigotry, prejudice, bad blood, sheer intolerance, hatred, bitterness, rage, no wanton abuse or destruction, a world free from corruption, hidden agendas, back handers, deceit, duplicity and devious conduct. Of course the world needs love sweet love, faith, hope, mercy and forgiveness. Calm down for a minute and let's take stock just for a minute because we can do this one.
We have two options. We can continue along this road to death, pain, torture and torment, of hurling personal and slanderous accusations at each other even if we think we're right and you're wrong. We have a moral compass here where people can get hurt both mentally and physically. It doesn't have to come to the last resort, the lethal gun, the incendiary explosion, the hail of bullets, the crushing blow that goes beyond apology.
It is time to face this New Year of 2026 and realise that we're now well over a quarter of a century into the new 21st century. All of those grudges and petty resentments that we held in our heart for too long have to be buried firmly in the past. We must have looked at ourself in the mirror and then reached an important decision about our lives. We can be good, virtuous, kind, considerate, even more compassionate people. We can be charitable because the people around us do appreciate our character, our individuality, our zest for life. It's something in our DNA, the way we've always done things.
The timeless cliches are among us again. So it's time to declare our New Year's resolutions. Let me see. You're going to quit smoking and drinking, stop eating chocolate permanently and just cut back on the crisps, chips, pizzas and cholesterol busting pies with massive sweet puddings to follow. You're going to walk or run to the train station for work, jog to school, university and college, sprint up a million staircases and complete just as many marathons or triathlons. We have to keep fit, alert, athletic and mobile, always on the move and never stop for a minute.
Every day has to be a complete emotional engagement, always maintaining concentration at all times, generating both an enthusiasm and an intensity that most of us are capable of achieving. But then we have to think about reaching positive agreements and compromises if this can't be achieved in a brief conversation. Now hold on, this all sounds so easy and logical but in the real world these are totally unrealistic objectives. So it's time to slow down and find a happy medium because at this point we may find we're taking life far too seriously.
We do the same thing. We vow to help our neighbours in distress, keeping an eye open for our elderly friends who always need help with the shopping. Then we think about us, signing up for a gym, a worthy desire to pumping iron, pedalling furiously on bikes, rowing on machines, strengthening up our pecs and biceps, pushing and pulling ourselves to the limit, disregarding the initial pain and difficulty and just get that heart beating like a trip hammer.
It all sounds so easy and of course we can stop wars, bloodshed, barbarity, horrendous hostility, endless arguments over territory. It is a time when every corner of the community that we believe is ours should never be taken over or demolished to the ground. We have families of the future to think of, children and grandchildren to nurture, encourage and inspire, mouths to be watered and fed, vital lives to be lived. It just sounds too overwhelming at times but this is the way it has to be. There is a common purpose, the survival of the species, humanity to be perceived in a warm, favourable light.
But we'll get there in 2026. We'll introduce even greater tolerance and forbearance into the discussion. We'll make sure that at no point will we ever allow our inherent optimism to crumble into the dust. We'll hold up our heads and we'll keep going because we have to keep believing. This is our first day of a brand New Year and even that sounds very good indeed. Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy, Sweet and Peaceful New Year. Have a brilliant year folks.
