Ringing in the new

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow;
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife,
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweet manners, purer laws.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

- Alfred Tennyson (1850)

Here comes the new year bringing with it the smug hope for change and end of all that is not wanted. And that is the best part of the ringing in the new and ringing in the old.

The new year’s eve was spent in the comfort of home with my family and therefore was less noisier than some of the previous ones. This has been a fantastic year personally and professionally. As I introspect on the year gone by, I am proud that I have worked well and partied hard. No regrets…not that I make major resolutions! I make plans as life happens so am unorganized and organized at the same time.

If I try to draw up a list of some things that I should do, it would read like this (not necessarily in any order of priority):

• Blog (more) often.
• Stay fit and slim, which includes diet control and regular exercise – No more last minute gyming after an all-year hogging spree.
• Grow my hair (a secret desire since childhood to have long flowing hair - never accomplished).
• Factor in more time for reading…a passion that has been ignored for some time now, mostly due to my laziness!
• Learn basic conversational Tamil.
• Keep in touch with friends regularly (a safe excuse to orkut and fb).
• Keep updating this list as and when required (So this takes care of all that I should do but can’t remember!).

Wishing a very happy new year to all :).