IN YOUR OWN WORDS HAPPY NEW YEAR, SELF! BY RAELENE JOHNSON HAPPY NEW YEAR, SELF. We made it to 2025! As I write this, it is still 2024, and I am preparing to have surgery on my left arm on my birthday, December 20, which I hope is the last surgery of the year because two surgeries in one year is a lot. This past year was a hard one. Thank you, Self, for being strong through 2024. We beat cancer and overcame a car wreck. I can’t do anything but trust that 2025 will be a great year. I thank God for the strength He gave me to come out stronger than I could ever imagine. You never know how strong you are until cancer or things like that enter your life. You can fight or give up. Giving up wasn’t in me, so I fought and WON my battle. The biggest thing necessary to win any hard battle is to stay positive. Do not let negativity enter your mind. When you think negatively, you will call out to the universe; it will come to you. So, always think good, and good will come back to you. Believe things will only get worse for you and guess what? Things will always go wrong or get worse for you. The universe will always give you what you speak or think into existence. So be careful what you think. Good or Bad will matter depending on what you really want. We are in a new year, so the past is behind us. Let’s not bring past hurt. Any anger about what happened in 2024 should stay there. This is the New Year we are in NOW. I want to look for the best in everything I surround myself with — from people and places I hang around to how I treat people or allow people to treat me. Only Self is in control of our happiness To live life, I can’t wait to see what is coming for me this year. I do know whatever happens has to be better than last year was for me. When you beat cancer anything is possible and you have nothing to lose you beat the hardest thing in life. My prayer is for everyone to be safe, housed, happy and that all dreams come true. Stay at peace always. Thanks for supporting us vendors and caring about Denver VOICE. Please continue to support the VOICE. May God bless you all this “New Year!” RAELENE JOHNSON. | PHOTO BY KAREN BEEMAN WINTER DONATIONS MADE EASY During the winter, Denver VOICE vendors experience increased heating and housing costs. Meanwhile, their income decreases because cold temperatures means less foot traffic and fewer paper sales. If you would like to help out your vendor by donating a few extra dollars, scan the QR code below to make a payment through Venmo. Please be sure to write your vendor’s name in the comments. Thank you! WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN DO THIS. DENVERVOICE.ORG/DONATE @DenverVOICE CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS We are looking for volunteers to help us at community events, or to assist with paper distribution and basic offi ce administration at our offi ce (989 Santa Fe. Dr.). If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us at program@ denvervoice.org. 12 DENVER VOICE January 2025
13 Publizr Home