As I am sitting at my desk typing these words, I find it hard to believe that another year has come and almost left already. It seems as if just last week we were getting ready to start 2011 and now we are saying farewell to it. All things usually have a beginning and an ending and a calendar year or a year of life is no exception. We cannot add to nor take away one second from time as we know it.

The year 2011 has brought changes to many. Families have lost loved ones, new babies have been born, homes built, and homes destroyed by terrible forces of nature. Jobs have been gained, lost, and even changed over the course of the last 365 days. Friendships have been made and lost, marriages have begun and unfortunately many have also ended. Five-year-old children began their kindergarten year and 18-year-olds graduated high school. All of these things and many others happened in what seemed like such a short period of time. As a young child you feel that time moves ever so slowly. Even up until the time you graduate from high school, it seems that you will never reach adulthood. Then the pace begins to pick up. You go to college or go to work, and then maybe get married. Within another few years you may find yourself being the parent of one or two children. Be careful because you are about to hit 30 before you realize what has happened.

As time waits for no man, the 30s, 40s and so on continue to march on Even though time moves at what seems like an ever increasing speed, we can still make the most out of the period of our life we are currently living in. Sure, we can sit around and think that we have lived more of our life than the amount we may have left. But think of how much better we can make use of this time by just living each day. By believing that each day of life is a gift from God it can be possible to take life as it comes, even with the bumps in the road, and enjoy each new day as an opportunity to make the world we live in a better place.

Welcome 2012 and all you have to offer.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.