Into the Whirring Yards, 73rd Day of Hagwinter, 525 M.E. (Helios): Today should pretty much do it for this long, exhausting year.

When the Dalai Lama was asked what was the best moment in his long and illustrious life, he immediately replied, without a moment's hesitation, "This one." 

The end of the year sees all kinds of "Best of . . ." lists. Best music, best movies, best meals, best sports, and so on. I have yet to see a list that includes the current moment as the best of the year. 

Is this moment right now, posting these words during halftime of the Ohio State-Miami Cotton Bowl, the best moment of my year, and if not what can I do to make it so? I'm home alone on New Year's Eve right now, but I like it that way. It's a choice. I have comfortable furniture. It's still cold outside, but I still walked a Madison today and my home is heated. I have electricity and high-speed internet, which might seem commonplace but its more that many people in parts of the world can say, and which the majority of people throughout history couldn't have said. I have clean, hot-and-cold running water. I'm listening to music I enjoy, I've had a nice meal earlier, and I'm not in any danger that I know of. 

I can't think of anything to add to this moment to make it the best of the year, other than to add to my own appreciation of the moment. I don't need anything more in my environment or more material possessions. I just need to add some appreciation of the moment to this moment, and to let go of the idea that I need something outside of myself to make it better.

And if I can bring that attitude forward into next year, that might be the best year of my life.

Happy New Year!