The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays, first observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago. Although the Babylonians had no written calendar, they actually commenced the year in late March, when spring began and the first crops were planted.

As this New Year rolls in, it is a time when many across our state are working hard to plant their own seeds for happiness, security and renewal for their families. Indeed, 2009 brought its share of continued challenge, with few communities – from the North Country to the Seacoast – immune to the pressures of a struggling economy.

As a businessman who has devoted a good number of years to identifying innovative solutions to everyday problems, I am a deep believer in our state’s greatest resource, its people, and their unwavering self-reliance, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to create their own solutions – and to do so in a very New Hampshire way. We’re seeing many of these stories already beginning to take shape, from the high-tech startups and small businesses sprouting across the southern part of the state, to the prospect of a film industry and cultural renaissance taking root in Coos County.

None of this will, of course, happen overnight. It will require all of us to take a collective deep breath, take stock of our situations, and ultimately take some chances. As Granite State residents, we know no other way. From Gen. John Stark to astronaut Alan Shepard, New Hampshire folks have never been shy about charting their own independent course. And 2010 is no time to stop.

As with the original NH Troubadour, which launched in 1931 as New Hampshire and the nation faced another era of hardship, we have published this little magazine to always remind you – regardless of circumstance – of the miracle of the state we call home, from our mountains, water and majestic backdrops to our timeless traditions and unrivaled volunteer spirit. As with that original publication, we look forward to seeing this period through, to hopefully providing you with an additional reason to smile each month, and to many, many bright years ahead.