I crossed two milestones this week, one substantially more villainous than the other.

The more benign of the two was that annual crossing of the Zodiac, the result of which was flipping the meter from 46 to 47. I'm not one to kick and scream about getting older - and I'm sure many consider such thoughts at my age to be folly. But as one friend noted on my Facebook page, "Can you believe we're getting to the point where we used to think our parents were OLD?"

The good news is that, at this age of my life, I can look at my parents and appreciate just how young they still are. All a matter of perspective.

The second milestone came a year ago yesterday. My career came to a sudden stop at a T-intersection. I was told "No" to a job I - at the time - wanted badly. I'd had a 25-year career of ever-upward progression. New opportunities always opened when I wanted them, and I was blessed with supervisors who had faith that I was suited for the position.

I considered myself a long shot for that job anyway, but to actually be called in and told that I didn't measure up? My head swam. My ears burned. My chest tightened. I nodded and said all the corporately correct things, but the bottom line was this: I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. I could move laterally all I wanted to, but not forward.

I heard the latch locking on the door. But a funny thing about latches? They make the same sound when they're unlocking also. A month later, I was talking to David Woronoff, publisher of The Pilot, about this job.

In his front-page column this past Wednesday, David talked about our year past and used Dr. Seuss' "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" as an apt description of our journey as a company. I loved the connection, for coming here early last year allowed me, personally, to "escape all that waiting and staying."

I had, as Dr. Seuss says, found my bright place "where Boom Bands are playing."

Indeed, the past nine months have seemed like a dance full of lively laughter and good cheer. As I look now at the year ahead of us, I see great potential for the things we want to do as a newspaper. Here are just a few of them:

• We will improve our business coverage to be more relevant to your life.

Business Writer Ted Natt does an outstanding job keeping you informed of employment trends, new businesses, profiles of small-business owners and the latest changes in industry.

As part of that, we also want to expand coverage for you as consumers. That means more news on the retail community, trends in personal technology, and more news about our local health care community.

• We will be your watchdog when it comes to government news.

Thomas Jefferson, speaking of newspapers, wrote, "If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, judges and governors shall all become wolves."

This is not meant to impugn our local public officials, who serve with the best intents in mind. But this will be a year for local elections and big decisions. You deserve to stay informed of the issues that will confront us all.

• We will broaden our digital footprint.

David in his column this past Wednesday discussed a bit about some of the changes we'll bring this year to the website, and you'll hear much more soon.

We also want to be your source online and on your smartphone and tablet. We have greatly expanded our presence on Facebook this past year and will do the same for other platforms, like Twitter and Pinterest.

• We will celebrate that which makes us unique.

More than once I have been accused by friends of doctoring the vigor and vitality of this community and the sheer amount of fun it produces. From Robbins to Aberdeen - and all points in between - we are a community full of great events, celebrations, festivals, fundraisers, charities, churches and recreation. It is important that we continue to print stories and pictures representing all of this.

That said, we remain a small staff. We are truly a community newspaper. You are part of us just as much as we are part of you. We cannot pull this all off without your help and contributions. We always welcome your ideas and submissions.

I wish each of you a Happy New Year and look forward to all that we will do together in 2013.

Contact John Nagy at (910) 693-2507 or john@thepilot.com.