How has this year worked out?

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

First of all, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. 

I think your answer to the title question is likely unique and depends on many things for you. The health of you and your loved ones are factors. Births, deaths, marriages and divorces are other factors in assessing your year.  

Politics and finances probably wrap up your attitude. I hope faith is in here, too, and not last as I have made it in this column.

How many of the categories I listed have you blamed on or given credit to President Trump? Has his actions this year changed your mind on him versus how you thought of him last January? I would be very critical of my own thinking if there was no change in this area.  

After all, everyone else you know, by their actions, invoke consistently changes good and bad feelings in you. Shouldn’t President Trump’s actions do the same for you?

President Trump has certainly been active this year. I can’t keep up with what is going on and suspect you may have trouble, too.

And I certainly don’t agree with everything he has done. I strongly agree with him when he is acting in a manner that reinforces application of the Constitution and the law. I am disappointed when he behaves in a narcissistic and petty manner.  

I do think he has our general well-being in mind most of the time.

Now, how about your family?  

Do you only find fault, or do you see the good, too? Do you forgive them for mistakes and praise them for shining moments of altruism?

Laura and I were on a Caribbean cruise the week of Dec. 7. What a place to study people! You know what they say about passengers on cruises? The cruise manifest consists of the newly wed and the nearly dead. This one was overweight with the nearly dead.  

Most of the time these days, I am using a cane or a “rollator.” My health is good except for my legs – they don’t work so well any more.  

Well, on this ship, people in my condition were constantly being run over, even by others in the same condition I am in. Anonymity seems to provide the right to be rude.

I hope you have a great holiday season.  

Remember, almost nothing is worth arguing over. And those things you want to argue over, likely you can do little about – especially if they are in faraway Washington, D.C.

Grasp the amazing miracle of being a living being on the only planet that we know that supports life. This is nothing to take for granted.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.