“It is perhaps a more fortunate destiny to have a taste for collecting shells than to be born a millionaire” - Robert Louis Stevenson

We must find a way. We must have a plan. We must break that which is broken, break it completely so that it can not ever be resurrected, for we know now that what is broken should not continue to be used. We must forge a new path, as those before us who believed in manifest destiny...

We must be thankful for where we are and how we came to be, we must be a government of one people, undaunted, undivided. We must love the aged and the young, their contributions mean so much. We must educate and be educated, to stop learning is to stop living, for we are here on planet earth for a reason, to be great, each and every day.

We must grow more food, we must drive less, we must find ways to save our world, to save our people. We must make less war, and make more love, for there can be nothing better than love. We must cry more, laugh more. We must give more and take less. We must take pride in our accomplishments and strive to be better every day. We must find cures for the plagues that affect us. We must plant more trees and build less skyscrapers, we must use less and recycle more. We must seek less from God, and take responsibility for our people and our world. We must remove barriers and build bridges, we must invite more and not wait to be invited, we must work harder and celebrate less.

We must smile more, for we know that in the smile of a child there is nothing more precious or beautiful. We must accept that we are not perfect and that it is ok. We must develop relationships based on friendships without expectation or demand. We need less in our banks and more in our hearts. We must show our future generations that there is hope and that together we can achieve much, alone we achieve little.

One hope for all at this time of year... that we have learned from our mistakes, that we can move beyond hate and learn to appreciate the gifts we have. Move with love in your heart and we will all move mountains.

"Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life." - Dalai Lama

The past month has been really hectic and I haven't had much time to gather my thoughts, but hopefully with the year winding down, I have found some moments for reflection, meditation and growth. Our world is so much smaller now and if we let it spin out of control we can easily lose sight of the important things.

With so much negative press surrounding events both local and foreign, and most of it negative, I'm going to take a few words to give props, where props are due. Funny isn't it we often hear how the media reads off the Police blotter every day, as if they are afraid to report "good" news. Are we so obsessed with negativity (and there is enough to report) that we can not celebrate some successes?

Congrats go out to Somerset School of Dance for their bi-annual performance held at the Ruth Seaton James auditorium at the end of November. I know a lot of parents at the school would love to see their kids dance more, I know how much I love watching my daughter dance, but credit to Sal Hodgson for making her school more than just a place to go for recitals. The RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) curriculum is one of the leading ballet methods in the world, and it's a bonus to know that all of her students pass their examinations with flying colors. It doesn't get reported on the news, but it's the truth.

As most will know, I am far from a supporter of the queen, but I am glad she came. There is some kind of magic with her that draws people from far and wide, and while I didn't take the opportunity to go out and see her, I am not the least bit surprised by the turnout. The premier alluded to the idea that we shouldn't read anything into her popularity as it regards independence and I tend to agree, but I don't think it was really necessary to come out and say that. Enjoy the moment, and know that we can allow for a moment of pomp and circumstance.

This past weekend I was proud to join the CURB table at the "Global Village" in Par-La-Ville Park. I gather the major sponsors are Chewstick, and I was really impressed with the social activism that was displayed by so many of the islands different groups. I will always preach the importance of being active, it is so important for our communities, and ultimately our country, that people care. If we can take the energy of the "Global Village" and unite to tackle some of our social ills, I'm certain we can move mountains.

Christmas is a time of year when we spend time with family and friends, and Bermuda has it's own set of traditions, that makes our country a great place to be. It's a great time of year, and I hope everyone takes a moment to move away from the negativity that is constantly beaten into our social media, and our regular media to embrace the season. Hug your kids, love your families and love one another people, for we are truly worth it.