Okay, so the year is four days old. Can we still slide this under the radar? January is supposedly the low-energy month. After all those light-filled holidays, we ostensibly go into the dark time of the year. Usually I concur with this vision, but for some reason I’m filled with optimism this year. Maybe it’s related to the presidential primaries and the conviction that we’re going to drag ourselves out of the morass that has been created over the past seven, going on eight years. That anybody can look open-eyed and honestly at what has transpired and vote for more of the same (as clearly many did in the Iowa caucus last night) is a testament to the blindness of humans. Never mind, I believe reason will prevail.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, author of “Women Who Run with the Wolves,” wrote: “One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it.”

So that is your assignment! Which reminds me, what are your new year’s resolutions? I don’t make them most years — maybe it’s my nascent commitment phobia. I’m a Pisces after all, and we fishies just never know when we might need to change our minds (notice how I snuck in that “need to”). Oh heck, let’s try a couple. I resolve to strengthen my connection (or at least the conversation) with my spiritual self, to do illuminating work (interpret that any way you want and it’s all true), to bring in more money than in 2007, and to share more than in 2007.

What are yours?