I imagine the expression “at the crossroads” comes from the common scene, in the city or the country, of two roads or paths intersecting one another. A crossroads presents the traveler with a choice: turn, or continue on ahead. Even if one is planning to go straight through, a crossroads usually requires you to slow down, or even stop, to watch for traffic, and verify the way you should go. So a crossroads provides the traveler with a moment, long or short, for reflection, evaluation, choice and – possibly – change. The dictionary includes this as one primary definition for crossroads: a point at which a crucial decision must be made which will have far-reaching consequences.

It seems to me that the simple change from the old to a new year is like a crossroads. Of course you cannot “go back” or avoid entering the new year, Continue reading →