You’ll excuse, I hope, if I keep this brief. The New Year is nearly upon us, and I’m spending the week with family.
I have tons of goals for 2011 which will involve more hours than I want to think about right now sitting in front of my laptop. So instead of talking about those, I thought I’d share something I wrote for AOL News that is up this week.
I was asked to write about my wishes for the New Year…(not goals, but wishes)…please forgive me for asking you to click on the link, but I do hope you will read it, then come back here and share your wishes for 2011 with all of us.
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2011 is even better than you expect.
Great article, Brett. And a great wish for the world.
My wishes for 2011: my gut says 2011 is going to be a lot like 2010 in terms of people being forced to break down their walls and step outside the asylum. I suspect a lot of people are going to find it crazy and scary and exciting all at the same time, so my wish for everyone (whether you find yourself in that particular place or not) is that 2011 be the year you find yourself growing in amazing ways, pushing beyond the limits you (or others) have set, so that this time next year, we're all looking around saying 'wow, I did that??!!'
Happy New Year!
Great article. Such a simple but important message. More broadly, I wish we would all make choices based on reason and kindness.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Brett, thanks for sharing this glimpse of your children and family. What you wrote reminds me of a phrase I've heard before, but it was highlighted recently and resonates strongly within me. If we all followed this simple phrase the world would be infinitely better, so I'm starting with myself: All that is required of us is to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly.
What a beautiful article, Brett.
My wishes for 2011 are pretty simple. I wish we'd all remember to follow the Golden Rule. I wish health and happiness to all.
And I wish the Yorks would sell the 49ers to someone who has at least half a clue about what it means to be an owner in the NFL 😉
Great article Brett. May all your wishes come true.
Amazing article, Brett. I knew a lot about your son and daughters from our first Thrillerfest together! Kids are amazing additions to family, no matter how they come into the family. I know so many people who have adopted both special needs kids and foreign babies (particularly China.) A good friend of mine calls her daughter her "China Doll" and she is gorgeous and beautiful and sweet. My former boss adopted (twin girls–they didn't know they were twins until after the birth) and one of my closest friends is adopted, as well as my mom's best friend. Adoption is love on both sides–mothers who can't keep their child for whatever reason, and parents who want a child no matter if the child is healthy or has special needs. I have a soft spot in my heart of Downs Syndrome children because I worked with them when I was a teenager, volunteering every summer at the rec center in San Carlos. My kids went to an in-home day care run by an amazing woman who had two special needs kids she cared for, so my kids grew up with Downs Syndrome kids as part of their regular life. I've also worked with an amazing woman who helps place special needs babies in adoptive homes.
Wow, I didn't realize how much your article affected me! Thanks so much for the link, no need to ask for forgiveness.
Thank you for brightening my morning, Brett, and for giving me a greater perspective on things. What a beautiful article. You had the opportunity to send a big, international message, and you did it right. And I bet there will be some new adoptions in 2011 because of it. Of course, they'll all be dog adoptions, Dalmations to be exact, and they'll be promptly returned after they've torn apart their new owners' shoes…
Still, you done a good thing, Mister Battles, and I'm proud of you.
What a beautiful, moving article. You are a good man, Brett Battles.
Yes, Brett, yes.
My wish?
May the most that you want be the least that you get.
Thanks, Brett. I love the article.
We had 8 foster children. Five were special needs. We adopted two of our foster children when they were "made available" by the court. They are twins, and both have autism. Our daughter's autism is moderate and was misdiagnosed, repeatedly. Our son's autism is mild and was only, very recently, diagnosed. He is quite accomplished in many ways, except socially. The pain of their nonacceptance by others is almost unbearable at times. We only hope that our love will be with them and stay with them.
Different relatives tried to adopt me, but my parents moved frequently and avoided detection for many years. Eventually I was allowed to live with my grandparents and my aunts. It was the most stabile part of my childhood. Since these were informal arrangements, my mother often took me away, until she relapsed. Then along came Auntie-Mom… who can do anything.
If you feel moved to help a child, and keep encountering barriers, be like my Auntie-Mom and learn how to belay, bounce, clip, crimp, and rapell.
Beautiful, Brett. May all your wishes come true.
As for me? I wish the same: smiles for my children and my granddaughter, for the continued health of our family, and for everyone to know they are loved.
I'm 22 and I've wanted to adopt since I was a kid. And not as my last option, as a part of the plan to begin with! I want to adopt an older child, maybe four or five, because I know it's harder for them to find families. The other day I was telling my mom that if I don't have kids by the time I'm 30, I'll start adopting. I want a full house, at least 4 children. I'd like to have at least one biological one, but if I never do, I don't mind much! Great article 🙂
Thanks all. Sorry for the late response. Have been traveling with the kids today and just got home. If anyone else wants to throw in their New Year wishes, feel free!
Barbie, I love that you're not looking at it as a last option. Growing up, I always knew that adoption would be part of the family I helped create. I just always thought that's the way you did it. Still do, I guess 😉
Great sentiment, Brett (or should that be Brent?)
Zoë, HA! Never ask me to proof read anything. I had no idea they made that typo until you pointed out.
Amazing article. May 2011 bring you more love, joy and smiles 🙂
Laura