It’s Boxing Day morning and the end of another Christmas. Scraps of wrapping paper peer out from the recycling, the Sellotape is back in the drawer and the house is quiet. For many, there is a sense of contentment and gratitude for the time spent with loved ones. Whether you are off to a Boxing Day swim, another family gathering or watching racing or a game of football, it’s a time for reflection and relaxation, and maybe for making plans for 2024. At times like this the question of what we hope to achieve in the year ahead begins to loom large. Maybe we want to focus on personal growth and self-improvement, set goals for our health, career, or relationships. Or it might be we want to make a positive impact in our community and consider options for volunteering and making a difference. Or perhaps we want to prioritize our mental and emotional well-being and try to find balance in our own lives. In reality, it often boils down to finding a balance between what we can realistically achieve and what we wish for. Before Christmas I read the controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk’s biography, written by Walter Isaacson. At the end of one somewhat busy week dealing with rocket launches, electric cars and buying Twitter, he unveiled the latest version of his new robot ‘Optimus’. He promised there would be millions of them, ensuring a ‘future of abundance’ and a future where there would be ‘no poverty.’ He told the audience it would be ‘a fundamental transformation of civilization.’ A man with the ‘Marmite’ effect, Elon Musk has achieved extraordinary things and he will certainly be credited with having had a major impact on civilization. For those of us that won’t make quite the same waves, let’s hope we can benefit our local communities in some small way in 2024.
