WELL, here we are again. Christmas is fast approaching and, in just a few weekends, a new year will begin – 2026!
We often find ourselves wondering what the next year will bring. Will it be a happy one or a sad one? Who can say?
I’ve said many times in these columns that life feels a lot like a lottery – a lottery where you never actually bought a ticket, yet here you are, participating every single day. We didn’t ask to be here; the odds of our existence were billions to one.
Have you ever stopped to wonder why? In a universe this vast, why should we even be here at all?
People just like us are shaping the world every day, hopefully for the better. But in some countries, 2026 may not be a year of joy at all, with internal conflict dominating daily life. Is it simply luck that we were born in a country free from the harsh realities that so many others endure?
How do families in makeshift refugee camps celebrate Christmas while surrounded by so much hardship and uncertainty?
They hold onto hope – hope that life will improve, hope that their “lot” will change. Because without believing in something better, the struggle becomes almost impossible to bear.
Think of them this Christmas … and then, think of us – living in Australia, blessed with the freedom to go where we please, to live in the outback or the city, to build a life without fear of borders, conflict, or oppression. We are truly fortunate.
So what will you do this Christmas?
Will you spend it with family and loved ones, or will you be on your own this year?
If the latter, perhaps it’s time to invite someone in – to open your door and share the day with someone who might otherwise spend it alone.
There are plenty of organisations ready to help, offering food, clothing, gifts and connection to those who need it most. All it takes is reaching out.
Life isn’t fair – and whoever said it would be? Each of us faces a different challenge, a different set of circumstances. But if life is a lottery, then investing in yourself is the ticket that always pays something back.
I’d like to pass on my very best wishes to everyone who reads this column.
Have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. May 2026 bring you everything you hope for.
My thanks to Local Ipswich News for giving me this space to share my thoughts as a senior member of this community.
