A toast to all the good stuff we seek in ’22

Here’s to the optimists and the dreamers, those who see hope on the horizon and find possibilities even in the darkest of times. Here’s to the living angels among us who help others. Here’s to new days and celebrating each rising sun as a chance to start afresh.

Here’s to the childlike mind that finds wonder in life and sees ordinary moments as extraordinary. Here’s to big laughs and long hugs.

Here’s to deep breaths and long walks. Here’s to burrowing deep inside in the dead of winter and bursting out into the world come spring. Here’s to the high arc of the sun in the summer and an overdue cool breeze that caresses the skin in the fall.

Here’s to a new year, San Antonio.

Here’s to all those New Year’s resolutions in the Alamo City that won’t make it to February.

And here’s to those resolutions that lead to lasting change. May you lose weight, read more books, walk 10,000 steps a day, learn pottery, master Spanish or learn the guitar — or not.

Here’s to knowing it’s never too late to tell someone you love them. Here’s to the healing power of forgiveness and the life-affirming laughter that fills the heart.

Here’s to tipping generously — especially for street musicians.

Here’s to tuning out cacophonous voices that seek to divide and distract us. Here’s to welcoming those voices that seek to inspire and unify us.

Here’s to Fiesta in 2022 — please, San Antonio, show us your shoes.

Here’s to voting and accepting election outcomes. Here’s to honoring our institutions and showing respect and civility to our fellow Americans.

Here’s to books coming off library shelves only because people have checked them out to read— and here’s to giving baseless book reviews the boot.

Here’s to more vaccines getting into people’s arms.

Here’s to vaccines! They work.

Here’s to the doctors, nurses and other health care workers who continue to serve those stricken with COVID-19. Here’s to the public health experts and elected officials who continue to preach the merits of vaccines.

Here’s to the teachers who have navigated virtual and in-person learning throughout the pandemic.

Here’s to compassion, an often-overlooked superpower.

Here’s to lingering sunsets bursting in pink and purple — and the promise they bring of a new day.

Here’s to saying goodbye to 2021. We won’t be looking for you in our rearview mirror.

Looking ahead, here’s to a new year, San Antonio. Welcome, 2022. We wonder what joys and sorrows you will bring.