2006, I Hardly Knew Ya Happy New Year, people.

It's 2007, and 2006 couldn't have gone by faster. New Year's Eve found me this year sitting in the back of Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, listening to Audra McDonald sing the classic movie musical songs I've always loved.

I confess, that mythical larger than life, sophisticated new year nearly found me this time.

Still, after Audra left the stage and the hall emptied, I found myself left with my own recollection, as always. I've left 2006 in a good place, and I'm moving into 2007 the same.

The last 365 days, in brief:

LOST: time, sight of myself, my old insecurity about money, the summer - instead working insane hours at a horrible job, Morgan, anonymity, stress, a sense of obligation, tension in my house.

FOUND: a new job, my social life, Montauk, all the things I enjoy doing that fell away during the business of loving and living with someone, Manhattan again, financial stability, a great hairdresser, maturity, another new job, confidence, good health insurance, peace of mind.

As for the next 365 days, I've decided that this year my goal is to move beyond simply being financially stable, an achievement I'm very proud of given the cost of living in this city, and begin to acquire financial freedom. I want to stop living paycheck to paycheck. I want to repair and rebuild my credit. I want to build a "nest egg." I also want to invest. I've been reading a lot of books about economics, and I know that you can't really build wealth without doing it. I've reached a point in my life where I'm at a job that I can really commit too, with good management, room for growth, and a good wage. It's time to really take control of my fiscal self. I feel like I have developed a lot of self control about spending habits, budgeting, and managing bills, and I'm ready to look at things I've avoided for awhile.

I would also like to direct at least one other show this year. Last year was a whirlwind of changes, and I missed an opportunity I was offered and ended up not doing anything. This year, at least one. One is well within reach right now.

As for you, for my New Year's well wishing I'm borrowing from Eleanor Roosevelt this year, in a poignant speech she made on January 1, 1937. It's my favorite new year sentiment, one I go back to year after year and I'm happy to pass to you now...

"I wish for those I love this New Year an opportunity to earn sufficient, to have that which they need for their own and to give that which they desire to others, to bring into the lives of those about them some measure of joy, to know the satisfaction of work well done, of recreation earned and therefore savored, to end the year a little wiser, a little kinder and therefore a little happier."

Happy New Year, people.  ¶ 1:04 PM