Higher power speaking again

Online looking for rituals for a new year, I came across this in an article on New Year's Rituals for Families by Meg Cox:

"In Scotland," explains Jim Sanford of Warren, Vt., "they say the first person to cross your threshold at the new year should be a dark, handsome young man in a kilt or black tie, and he brings four gifts: coal, to symbolize warmth; a black bun for healthy food; a bottle of Scotch whiskey for prosperity; and then some salt, to remind you that all the good things of life don't come without sadness."

I was looking for a way to put closure on the pain and disappointment of this year and along came my reminder that there is no closure on sadness. Like joy, love, peace and happiness, loss, grief and sadness are all part of life, and to expect otherwise is to be naive. Which I've been for so long I think. It's good to be growing.