When I originally planned this column, I planned to write about preparing for the things to come in 2025.

I was going to talk about how a new year can feel quite daunting, not knowing what lies ahead.

However, I was hoping to put a positive spin on it and tell you to focus on the good things to come and remind you to not stress over the things you cannot control.

Despite an uncertain future, I planned to mention there are wonderful things we can count on, like the creation of art, the competition in sports, etc.

But, now, after 15 people died while celebrating the new year, I’m at a loss for those words.

The positives have escaped me.

On New Year’s Day, a little after 3 a.m., a driver of a pickup truck sped through a crowd of pedestrians gathered in New Orleans, killing at least 15 people and injuring about 30 others, according to the Associated Press. The suspect was killed in a shootout with police.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, a Tesla truck, filled with firework mortars and gas canisters, exploded outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel, another AP article reported. The blast killed a suspect inside the vehicle and injured seven people nearby.

It is possible that investigation will point to terrorism, as well.

Violence.

The year 2025 began four days ago.

Within four days, we’ve already seen such horrendous violence.

Ringing in the new year typically has a positive look. It marks the beginning of a new chapter. It’s a chance to leave the past in the past, to work toward something bigger and better.

Suddenly, it feels hard to be excited about the future. It’s hard to envision such positive things when darkness has already made its way in.

It’s tough to imagine what’s to come, all the unexpected elements ready to jump out at us.

It’s difficult to know that people are struggling. Whether it’s a neighbor, another U.S. citizen, or someone halfway around the world living in a war zone.

Sometimes, it feels like things will never change.

But, each year, in one way or another, we can expect some change. Despite how hard it might be to plan for, we know for certain that some things will change.

Whether it’s the incoming political officials entering their respective positions or as simple as what’s trendy, we can expect change.

Maybe, this year, we should not only expect change, but work toward it.

In 2025, we could push toward changes to make our country a safer place. We could change certain habits to help battle climate change. We could make some changes in gun control so maybe fewer students will die in their classrooms this year. We could change our way of thinking to better connect with one another, to try and understand one another.

In some ways, 2025 is just another year, but it’s also a chance for new opportunities.

It’s a chance to see the terrible things in our world and try to change them, to make the world a better place.

Despite the horrible things we’ve already seen, it’s possible there are better things to come in 2025.

And the possibilities are even better if we truly work to make those better things happen.

Perhaps the year started off poorly, but that’s no reason to let the whole year escape us. There’s no reason not to turn things around and maybe leave the year better than we found it, the world better than we found it.

Torianna Marasco can be reached at 989-358-5686 or tmarasco@TheAlpenaNews.com.