Farewell to Another ...

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne*?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

for auld lang syne,

we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup!

and surely I'll be mine!

And we'll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,

and pou'd the gowans fine;

But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,

sin' auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,

frae morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

sin' auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!

and gie's a hand o' thine!

And we'll tak' a right gude-willie waught,

for auld lang syne.

- Robert Burns

For some the New Year will but another ticking of the clock. A mere awakening to another sunrise. It will be but a whisper in their mind that the day merely marks a mental note to change not only the day, month when signing the date, but to also adjust the year. 

For many it will mark the end of a year. An end of a year that was filled with tragedy. It was filled with devastating news, both abroad and in their own nation. For many it is much closer to home. It marks the end of the year where they lost a loved one, lost a child, lost employment, lost a relationship, lost good health and a plethora of many other things that we could add to the list that would label 2016 as "the worst year ever".

For others they will look back as their "best year yet" as they felt blessed with many of life's joys. Their year marked many beginnings, it marked many firsts that brought absolute joy. The year saw for them relationships grow, births, homes made and health just get better and better. It was a year that will be memorable as year of absolute wonderment for it brought so much happiness, and with hope the following year will bring just as much joy, but will most likely pale in comparison. 

For many it will mark a new beginning. A chance to make new relationships, new health promises, work commitments, a year to plan holidays, to celebrate good health or recovery. It will be a chance to find new hope inhumanity. It will be a chance to renew commitments. Or even a chance to completely remake oneself.

The artwork above devotes itself to farewelling anger. There is a glow surrounding the two people walking the long stretch of the path. The darker colours dissipate towards the bright illuminous oranges, yellows and reds of the trees and path. The couple walk together, side by side into the bright hope at the end of the cobbled road. Although I feel there are many reasons for me to look back on 2016 with anger, frustration, exhaustion and sadness, I also look back on a year that had many joys. It was a year filled with great achievements and small glimpses of joy in everyday life. However, more than the highs and lows comes to me an even greater reflection. I see a year that shaped me. It has shaped me to be a person who can look ahead into 2017. I want to try not to look on 2016 and dwell on what it did not achieve, or lament the bad decisions I made, or brood over all that went wrong. I want to look back on 2016 and acknowledge the pain, the anger, the hurt, the frustration, the loss as it has matured me and I want to reminisce on the joys, hopes, growth and accomplishments that have refined me. 

I farewell 2016 as it should be farewelled and I welcome a new year that will bring many more experiences, be they failing or uplifting. 

Farewell to Anger- Leonid Afremoz (2015)