"Sheila and I wish all our family, neighbours and Facebook friends a joyous and Happy New Year. We also thank you all for your thoughts and prayers over this past year and your constant support with regard my medical condition and the uncertainty we faced. We have greatly valued your contact, love and concern and feel blessed that you have been a part of our daily life and have allowed us to be part of yours.
For those of you who are currently experiencing health issues, loneliness, money problems, relationship difficulties or are presently feeling bereaved of person or bereft of purpose, it is my dearest wish that you do not allow self-loathing, negativism or hopelessness to steal into your life and rob you of any remaining strength you have for the year to come.
There is unlikely to be any reason to rally your friends in your time of need. If they are friends, they will be there for you without an invitation to the party. So, take heart and learn to take any help that is offered. Let your New Year resolution be, 'I will not be too proud to take help and support off another in whatever form it is offered, nor shall I be afraid to offer it. '
The one slogan which holds truth in any society is that 'We are all in this together!' Whatever ills beset society or the individual in it at any given time, rest assured it never ever affects one person only. If you don't believe me, look behind you, in front of you, all around you, and you will find others in similar circumstances to those you are in.
From my many years of running groups for people with the most difficult and intransigent of problem behaviour, the greatest support any member ever had was from each other, and the thing that mattered most in their improvement was the knowledge that they were not alone and that they were all in it together!
So, take courage from the fact that you are not alone in your experience. You will find others prepared to stand alongside you, and all you need do is 'to let them'. Know that if you feel you have no friend, you are wrong, because I am your friend. And know also that when you find yourself again, you will discover the best friend you will ever have.That best friend is and always will be yourself, if, to thine own self you remain true! Happy New Year everyone. Peace and love. Bill and Sheila xxx" January 1st. 2018.