We survived.

If you’re reading this, then the world indeed did not end. Or perhaps it did and now you and I are left with the cockroaches to figure out what’s next. Chances are, however, both are highly unlikely, not to mention improbable. I am no scientist, but after living through the let down of the Y2K hype I consider myself ‘experienced’ in such silliness.

Of course I was also way too busy keeping up with holiday traditions, recitals and obligations to give this too much thought. Truthfully, I did pause (ever so briefly) one morning and remove the lists I found myself buried in to ponder the purpose of preparing for December 24 and 25 if no one was to be around to appreciate it all.

I even went as far as to suggest to our editor to place a big splash on the front of the paper indicating the survival of yet another issue of our publication.

‘This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,’ I stated. She chuckled and clearly did not take my advice. This might also serve as fair argument as to why she is the editor and my byline finds itself tucked somewhere among the double digit numbers of our newspaper pages. You can’t blame a girl for trying.

Maybe I’m just a renaissance writer and I just have yet to realize it. I spent a large number of years at this newspaper typing up the ‘Do You Remembers’ and I must say that story would have comfortably found itself on the front page of one of our 1920s newspaper editions.

Doing my due diligence however and as a once ‘responsible’ reporter turned columnist I did do a bit of research via Wikipedia. For those like myself who chose to keep themselves in the dark on the whole thought process regarding ‘doomsday’ here’s some info.

According to Wikipedia: “This date is regarded as the end-date of a 5125-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Various astronomical alignments and numerological formulae have been proposed as pertaining to this date, though none have been accepted by mainstream scholarship.

A New Age interpretation of this transition is that the date marks the start of time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation, and that 21 December 2012 may mark the beginning of a new era. Others suggest that the date marks the end of the world or a similar catastrophe. Scenarios suggested for the end of the world include the arrival of the next solar maximum, an interaction between Earth and the black hole at the center of the galaxy, or Earth’s collision with a planet called “Nibiru.”

Personally I missed the ‘New Age’ interpretation and for some reason, that’s one I really would like to subscribe to. But then isn’t that the way of the world?

Human nature seems to more times than not find one talking about their ailments more often than good fortune. Shouting from the rooftops when customer service does not fare them well, yet forgetting the clerk whom went out of their way to make their visit ‘just right.’

The saying goes ‘Misery loves company’ and perhaps that’s the easiest way to explain the lack of knowledge on the New Age take on December 21, 2012. I mean, imagine if we all sat around thinking on 12/21/12 we are all going to come upon a positive physical or spiritual change or more simply put… be filled with hope. How would one spin that in the media?

The thought of that headline news in and of itself causes me to chuckle a bit. But there is good news. I subscribe to the simple philosophy of my life being what I make it.

Does this mean that I have not felt heartbreak, disappointment, illness or defeat? Actually it means quite the contrary and that was just in 2012. What is truly great about all of that is in spite of it I have managed to come out the other side still full of hope.

I do believe we are never given more than we can handle. I also marvel (often) over how the people chosen for some really large burdens and hurdles can possibly be any stronger. Yet, somehow it all plays out and with it a valuable and sometimes life changing lesson.

So, what does all this mean… really?

My hope is that each person whose eyes grace these words take a moment to find a way to incorporate the New Age version into your own life. If we (just simply our community) took the word hate and replaced it with hope, think what kind of movement that might be. Some areas of our lives are easier to apply it to than others. It’s baby steps, after all but I believe it’s possible.

“Why don’t you start believing that no matter what you have or haven’t done, that your best days are still out in front of you.” – Joel Osteen.

Teresa Hammond is circulation manager for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. She may be reached at thammond@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 847-3021.