Share the optimism to make 2022 a better year

The world is their oyster — and the optimism of our 22 for ’22 — young people with big ideas and great plans for the future, shines from the pages of The News today. From five-year-old Nala-Paris Mbah, one of the youngest members of Black Lives Matter Portsmouth, to 21-year-old photographer and director

Brad Mackay, our Bright Young Things are an inspiration to us all to try to make the world a better place in 2022.

Whether their aims are to raise money for those less fortunate than themselves, to lobby for change, or to take part in the democratic process, they are determined to stake their claim to make a difference in the 12 months that lie ahead, and beyond.

As we emerge, bleary-eyed from the excesses of the festive season, and perhaps make our resolutions to improve our health, wealth or happiness, we could do worse than take a leaf from their books.

As the oft-told story of Ebenezer Scrooge tells us every yuletide, the turn of the year is a time to reflect on the past and to start things anew for the years yet to come.

As adults we become jaded from the twists and turns of life and, over the years, our view of the world may get knocked off-kilter.

But cast your mind back to the days when you were a child or a teenager, before adulthood began to blunt dreams and ambitions.

For almost two years now, we have learned to cope with the vicissitudes of a pandemic, and, day by day we have coped.

It has been tough, but we have pulled through.

Some might say it has been the greatest collective effort we have had to make since the war.

We can take comfort from that, and we can also draw strength from the raw, unfettered enthusiasm of youth.

If we all share just a fraction of their enthusiasm, 2022 could turn out to be a very good year.