January 1, 2014

So it is the first day of a New Year, a new beginning, a time to make resolutions and to make changes in your life.

But really it’s just an arbitrary date that we’ve chosen; an artifact of a calendar that has changed over the centuries.  This day isn’t really different than any other day, though I do see this as a special day myself.  I recognize that is a personal feeling but a new year has begun.  Other people celebrate this day but I don’t know if they feel the same way that I do about it.  For some people New Year’s Eve is the big event.  That’s fine.  Everyone can celebrate in their own way, but I think it’s useful to focus on January 1^st as a time of beginnings. 

If you made resolutions to change your life for the better, then good for you.  It’s good to improve yourself in whatever way you choose.  Make needed changes and work to make yourself and your life better.  But don’t fret about January 1^st.  If you started today, fine, but if you miss it, don’t give up because of that, just start tomorrow.  If you make it to January 10^th or March 2^nd or May 4^th and then your resolve falls apart don’t worry about that either.  Maybe your resolutions were too ambitious, or maybe they were unattainable or maybe you just had a bad day.  It’s good to have goals that you try to achieve but don’t let the goal be an obstacle.

So you didn’t go to the gym every day and you haven’t been eating better at every meal.  Maybe you haven’t been a nicer person to everyone and you haven’t been able to write a sonnet every day.  So what?  Maybe you just need to revise your goals or maybe you just need a day off.  I have the feeling that a lot of people give up on their resolutions once they have a single misstep.  I’ve done that.  It’s human nature, and it’s hard to overcome.  Still, I think it’s worth trying to get over it.  If you don’t start right away or you can’t quite keep up with what you wanted to do don’t give up completely.

It’s a new year, a chance to see things in a new light and to start thinking in a new way.  Of course things don’t really change just because it’s January 1^st.  The rest of your life hasn’t reset itself just because the calendar rolled around to a new year.  Work keeps on going, or the look for work keeps on, and the demands of life are still there – maybe it’s all even a little more pressing because you took some time off for the holidays.  Fine, do what you have to do to keep life going and your world in order.  I hope things run as smoothly as possible for everyone.

But do think about it being a new year.  It’s New Years Day.  Celebrate, relax, enjoy.  And tomorrow go about your business, but maybe look at things a little differently.  Sure, it’s going to be January 2^nd and it will be Thursday and just another ordinary day.  Try to make that day a good day.  No, I’m not trying to spout platitudes about making the world what you want it to be, I don’t know anyone with that kind of control over the world and if you can do that give me a call.  If you’re that powerful you’ll know my number.

What I am suggesting is that if you have that feeling of newness and potential that can come with New Year’s Day don’t leave it behind.  Keep that thought with you as the year progresses.  I intend to try.  Maybe the chance to start something new comes along in three weeks.  I want to keep looking.

Every day is a new day with its own potential and that’s a good thing.

Happy New Year!

The word for today is depleted.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and if you are one of the people I didn’t get to see today that word is the reason.

The hectic spin of life that starts around mid-November each year ended with a crash this time around and that’s about the only word I can think of that describes how I feel today.

My wife and I had a quiet New Year’s Eve, and maybe that just signaled what would follow.  Neither of us had enough strength today to do anything.  Blame the weather, our physical condition, the toll the holiday’s take, whatever, it’s life.  Some days are good and some days are bad.

All things considered today’s not really that bad aside from the fact that we can’t make it out to our friends’ annual open house.

Oh well, it’s still New Year’s Day and time to look ahead to a fresh new year full of potential and possibilities.  We’ll rest.  We’ll recover.  And we’ll forge ahead.  I don’t think that’s a bad way to start off the new year.

I hope that everyone enjoyed their New Year’s celebrations on whatever and however many days they may have occurred.  Quiet or raucous, I hope the New Year started well for everyone and continues well.

May you have dreams to dream, wishes that come true and hopes that are realized.

New Year's Eve

Oddly, since we really got started as a couple at a New Year’s Eve party, my wife and I do not normally go out for New Year’s Eve.

There was one year we were on vacation on January 1st and we spent the day at EPCOT. I know that sounds crazy and it was crowded to the point where they stopped letting more people into the park. Each represented country handed out noisemakers and when the hour reached midnight in that nation there were kids running around, well, making noise.

At midnight local time everyone was crowded around the lake in the middle to see the fireworks. My wife and I found a spot with a good view that was a little apart from the throng just by virtue of landscaping. It was a good crowd, a good show and everyone was excited and the atmosphere was festive. Things were noisy and colorful and crowded and crazy. It was a rare and raucous occasion and it was fun.

All around it was a fun New Year’s Eve with good fireworks, and it would have been worth dealing with the mass of humanity if for no other reason than that we got to see several hundred people dancing the Macarena.

I told you it was crazy, and that should give you some idea of when this happened.

I don’t oppose the idea of going out for New Year’s Eve, it’s just never been a tradition for us. I don’t really care where I am or how loud or quiet the celebration is as long as I am with my wife. That’s where I’ll be spending this New Year’s Eve.

However you plan on celebrating I hope you have very good New Year’s Eve and a very happy New Year.

Happy New Year!

There is a lot that can be said about the past year, and I started to write about it several times, but I've decided to put all of that behind me. I've had enough of repeating things about the past. There was a good thing that happened in 2009 - the favorable decision - and I will use that to let me stop thinking about this.

It has been an ever-present thing on my mind, but it is - and has been - time to move forward.

Here's to moving forward and to moving ahead.

I wish everyone a new year filled with happiness, health, peace, success and fulfillment.

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Happy New Year!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!