With time at a premium - especially at this time of year - we might not even notice our reflection in a mirror, let alone reflect on the ups and downs of the year gone by. But as one year ends and another begins anew, it's a great opportunity to not only look back, but also to look ahead to our hopes and dreams.

The media will give us plenty of fodder, with their lists of the Top 10 most newsworthy events, best and worst movies of the year, sports highlights and the man or woman of the year most worthy of a magazine cover. But the more we pay attention to these external diversions, the less likely we are to indulge in any meaningful introspection. And looking within is not the easiest thing to do in the first place. We might be reminded of bad choices, missed opportunities, flawed relationships, or worse yet, personality traits that we'd prefer to ignore or keep hidden.

It may not be easy, but it's ever so important. Why? Ghandi once said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Take a look around Nassau County and you will find plenty of people who have taken this message to heart as they champion one cause or another - not so much for their own personal gain as for the greater good of the community. Though many might feel a sense of pride or satisfaction in living a life in keeping with our various faith traditions, they may still feel frustrated by the number of obstacles and nay-sayers in their path.

I wonder what politicians see when they look in the mirror. Are they able to point with pride at any accomplishments? Have they lived up to their campaign promises? Have they tried to make decisions for the benefit of many or just a few special interests? Have their words and deeds called forth their higher selves? Have they taken the easy road and sided with the "We've tried it before" and "It can't be done" crowd, or have they expended the energy to break through barriers?

Though our elected officials are charged with the responsibility of finding real solutions to real problems, we shouldn't hold them to any higher standards than we set for ourselves. Every one of us - with no exceptions for politicians - has a choice: we can be part of the problem, or part of the solution. We're often our own worst enemies when we give in to pettiness, backbiting, greed or any of the so-called "deadly sins."

Maybe I'm too idealistic to think we'll even be able to agree on what constitutes a problem, especially in our divisive culture where "the problem" is always someone else's fault. Think of the possibilities if we could shift our focus from the past to the future, from blaming others to taking the necessary steps toward a common goal. If a look in the mirror as we review the past year and are left without a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment, it may be time to focus on the year ahead and look within ourselves to make a difference.