A New Year and New Hope in 2017

Why do we celebrate the passing of the old year and beginning of the new? Do our lives really change when a new year begins? Can they change?

I would like to believe that our good intentions on New Year's Eve have the ability to transform our lives through hope and good will. When we bid farewell to the old year  with the traditional Scots song "Auld Lang Syne" (which means "days gone by" or in a word-for-word translation "old long since"), we usher in the new year with hugs and kisses for family and friends and with plans for the future. I hope that the new year will be better not only for me but also for all of you. Happy New Year!

Vocabulary
intention(s) (noun) - plan(s)

transform (verb) - change
hope (noun/also sometimes a verb) - wanting something to happen
good will (expression) (adjective + noun) - kindness
bid farewell (expression) verb + noun) - say goodbye
usher in (verb) - mark the start of something

Vocabulary Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary word.
1. When my mother leaves tomorrow, we will ______   ______________ .
2. The barber gave him a new hairstyle and _______________ the way he looks.
3. My _______________ is that my sick friend will feel better.
4. As a teacher, I like to ___________  ___ the new semester.
5. My family has the good  _______________ to adopt a cat.
6. New Year's Eve is a time for __________   ___________ towards friends and family.

Grammar Point
The personal pronouns in English include:
I/me/my
You/your
We/our
He/him/his
She/her
It/its
They/them/their

Grammar Exercise:
Which personal pronouns do you see in my paragraph? Write three sentences using personal pronouns.