My 2025 Wish List

Last year I posted my personal wish list for 2024.  I promised to let you know which of my wishes came true and to write another wish list for 2025.  

To be perfectly honest, very few of my 2024 wishes came true.  I was truly broken-hearted that Donald Trump has been returned to office.  He represents almost everything I find repugnant. However, I will not lose hope and I will continue to support democracy.  Unfortunately, I believe that the whole world is in for a rough ride.

In sports, I wished all the Toronto teams the best of fortune in 2024.  Only the Toronto Argonauts delivered.  They won the Grey Cup.  The Toronto Maple Leafs played well in the regular season, but didn't get past the first round of the playoffs.  As for the Toronto Blue Jays, they had a miserable season.  They were a disappointment as they finished last in the American League East.  The Raptors are rebuilding and they had a lot of injuries to key players.  Not much was expected of them, and they weren't contenders.

I wished that the Summer Olympics in Paris would be successful.  They were, despite worries about terrorism and unrest.  Summer McIntosh, a true champion swimmer, made Canada proud.  She won three gold medals and one silver.

Trump, Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu are an unholy trio.  They are all Alpha males in their 70s and they have caused an enormous amount suffering, death and destruction.  All three pose a threat to world peace.  Unfortunately, they are still in power.  We don't know how long we'll have to endure Putin and Netanyahu, but Trump will be president for four years (or longer).

Putin

 Netanyahu 

Trump

My final wish for 2024 was that there would be more civility in the world in, and less political and social polarization.  Trump's return to power does not bode well for that.  However, life goes on, and I can only hope that the pendulum swings in another direction. I had hoped for a greater connection between people and less isolation. I continue to hope.  I have to admit that I am glad 2024 is on its way out.  

Here is my 2025 wish list:

I continue to hope for more civility in the world, and an end to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.  The world needs leadership as never before.  It needs stability.  I hope for stability in my own country, Canada, which is at a crossroads.  Canadians will be going to the polls in 2025.

One bright spot in 2024, was the fall of Assad in Syria.  It is my wish that life in Syria improves in 2025.  Syrians deserve a better future.

As usual, I hope that Toronto sports teams do well.  Unfortunately, I am not optimistic about the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays.  The Maple Leafs do well enough in the regular season, but they won't impress me until they win playoff games.  The Raptors have talent, but they have to put some wins on the board.  The Argos have been doing well, and I hope they continue in that direction.

All the best to you and yours in 2025.  I wish you happiness and good health.  In January of, 2026, I will write another wish list and I will let you know if any of my 2025 wishes came true. 

 Happy New Year!

     

- Joanne