I wanted to take a minute and wish all of my readers, wherever they may be, a safe and happy New Year. I hope that we all find peace and happiness in the New Year.

My wish for 2018 is that we can all come together, despite our differences and see one another for the truly amazing human beings we are. Allowing things like race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity and even political beliefs to divide us must stop.

As individuals, we need to make a decision about what we want our lives to mean. We must decide what kind of world we want our kids going up in.

Let’s make 2018 a year where hate and bigotry are outweighed by love and acceptance. Let’s teach our kids to stand for what’s right. Let’s teach them to rise up against hate and stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.

We must put an end to things like bullying and hate crimes. We must foster a sense of community and build bridges, rather than tear them down.

My sincerest wish for all of us, is that 2018 brings peace, health and happiness to everyone.

Happy New Year…