The good thing about beginnings is that they offer so much hope. There’s no past. No remorse for those you’ve hurt. No regrets for what’s been done. No shame for poor decisions and errant judgment. Starting at the beginning promises a clean slate, an empty page upon which to have your story written. So, too, do New Year’s offer glimpses of hope. We’re encouraged by reminiscing on the incarnation to tackle the new year with fervent resolve and courage. The New Year beckons us to meet it head on and try, with all our might, to shake off the shackles of the past and embrace the power of the present and the promise of the future. And if you fight through all the empty resolutions and vain vows of change, you’ll find the inner resolve that drives us: the need for more.