Reporter's Note: The new year has begun! The old letters persist!

Dear Mr. President,

Happy New Year! I trust you are recovering well from all the festivities of last night, and if not, well I hope the fun was worth it. Ha!

I don't know if you have a resolution in mind for this coming year, but I certainly do. I'm not particularly keen on this whole resolution business, but this year I believe I have hit upon a fine idea and I am excited about it.

I should first explain that in our family we usually talk more about a slogan for the coming year instead of a resolution. That should better explain where I am coming from when I tell you that my goal for 2012 is this: Less dreaming, more doing.

That's it.

I have reached an age (and you have too, for that matter) in which it is foolish to wait too much on future plans. Do it now, that's what I say. So this year, rather than sitting around imagining what I might do down the line, I intend to engage the world much more actively. It's the old "bird in the hand" approach to a degree, and I have great faith in it.

And considering that this could be the final year of your presidency (I'm not predicting, I'm just saying) it may be a notion that you can embrace too.

Either way, give me a call today if you can. It would be nice to start the year with a friendly chat, don't you think?

Regards,
Tom