Valor and Loyalty

May all of you have a very happy, healthy, and especially prosperous New Year!

This is--or soon will be, if you follow the traditional oriental calendar--the Year of the Dog. Specifically, this will be the year of the Earth Dog, when the Dog is said to be influenced by the element of earth. I'm not a believer in astrology, whether Eastern or Western, but the association of the Dog with courage, and with loyalty, is a good match for my hopes for the coming year.

The times in which we currently find ourselves require courage and valor, and persistent--but clear-headed and objective--loyalty to our beliefs and principles are needed now more than ever.

I hope that both your and my relatives, friends, and loved ones find prosperity and happiness in 2018. May it be filled with good fortune and excitement every day.