Next year can be better.

It could be worse (yes, even worse than now). Or stay the same. Or change in so many beautiful and terrible and mundane ways.

It could be the best, if only by a few percent.

It could be the worst, the very worst. But it doesn’t have to be your last. Your next year can be better.

I hope this year is the first of many, many bests.

May you find joy and warmth, in a form that lasts.

In the meantime, may this year find you and yours in the best of health.