So I have a funny admission to make:  I love wandering through office supply stores!   I love looking at new pens, pencils, desk sets and the like.  But there is something almost magical about visiting an office supply store in January with all the organization and planning tools they have available.  For me, January is a time to make a brand new start.  Think about how fun it used to be when starting a new calendar at the beginning of the year.  Those new, blank pages served as a reminder that there are days ahead filled with opportunities, adventures, and yes, challenges.

I think that all of us need an opportunity to have a fresh start from time to time, and the beginning of a new year can be the perfect time.  Take New Year's resolutions as an example.  We resolve to lose weight, exercise more, or maybe balance our bank accounts more regularly.  These simple actions represent some ways we want to get our life back on track.  But, there are other circumstances in life that take us far off course.  Maybe we lost a loved one, faced financial difficulty, or experienced a trauma that has changed the way we see ourselves and the world around us.  January 2018 is an opportunity for us to remember that these experiences don't have to paralyze us; we can make a fresh start!!

The Crisis Center is here to help people get their fresh start (any time of year). Through the Gateway, trauma counseling, and additional services, we help people turn the page so they can have a different perspective and a new beginning.  As always, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Just call 2-1-1! This year, resolve to let the Crisis Center help you make your fresh start in 2018!

Happy New Year!

Clara