Winding up the year always allows for pause and reflection. This year has been very good for my career, thanks to my first self-published book, Burnt Toast, and the national awards it has won.

But it all started here. Burnt Toast is an anthology of selected columns that have run in this newspaper and on this website since 2003. The weekly column has allowed me the opportunity to share my wit and insights with you over that course of that time. And it has been such a rewarding experience. Wherever I go, I run into people who have enjoyed reading my humor column and that makes me quite proud.

The oft heard comment is that they feel I can relate to them. Considering the readership of the newspaper spans several generations, I feel that is quite an accomplishment. And I have to say I feel very blessed and grateful for that.

I personally am committed to laughing at myself in the new year. Someone once said that the first sign of trouble in a society is when it loses its ability to laugh at itself. I couldn’t agree more.

So join me in 2013 to be more lighthearted and less self-consumed. It’s a small shift in perception that I believe can have a much larger impact on the world. Peace.

PS I have lowered the ebook price of Burnt Toast to 99 cents, if you feel you need some prompting when it comes to breaking into a smile. Click here to take advantage of some award-winning humor.