With the passing of each year comes the sitting and
reflecting on the things that have happened in the current year. Life changes,
the good, the bad, the happy and sad, the big, and the small things that we
have taken note of throughout the year since January 1 until today, December
31. Every year, the event is quite similar, all over the world, as the clock
counts down to the last minute of the year we are currently in, and turns over
the new hour of the new day in the New Year. Some may share the “New Year Kiss”
while some may be out partying it up and not even remember the midnight hour.
There will be confetti tossed in some homes, champagne glasses toasting and
cheering in the New Year, some celebrating with family and friends, and maybe
some just sitting quietly… alone.
We’ve all set some goals, if not on paper, at least in our
minds. It doesn’t matter if it has been said “I won’t make any resolutions this
year” because the mind has already thought of something that we will not let be
the same in the coming year.
Facebook has been the number one social networking trend for
a few years now, and as I scroll through my Newsfeed today I see a lot of
people posting their thoughts about 2013. There are a lot who have said that
2013 was not good to them. A lot have said 2013 was good to them. I remember
early in the year when one friend had a situation hit them they already wrote
off the whole year as a failure, wishing it away even, and wanting to be hidden
away until the year came to its end. Of course, this brought me to my pondering
moment.
Yes, we measure time by years, months, weeks, and days. But
it seems that the Year is the ultimate time ruler when weighing life circumstances
and situations. “I have a bunch of things I want to change…starting January 1!”
“But it’s October 3…why not start now?” “Because, silly! I need to make changes
FOR the New Year, not BEFORE the New Year.” I have found myself thinking that
same thing as the year came closer to an end…aaahhh why not just wait until
January? How about this…
Every day is a new day. Every hour a new hour. When a child
is being punished with “Time out” for five minutes, at the end of that time is
a fresh start for another chance at NOT making that same mistake again…we don’t
wait until next year to let them off the hook! No! We end the session with the
understanding that “you did your crime, you did your time.” And the rest of the
day continues with new starts…in the middle of the day!! Yes! It’s possible!
I recently thought of a change I wanted to make, “in January”
and literally sat there and stared at the paper I was writing on and said, “Really,
Becca? Really?! Why not just pick up that change now, and have it established
BY January 1?” That MIGHT just work! *gasp*
So, as we end one year and begin another, all in a single
moment’s time, let us remember with a certainty that we WILL leave off a few
things here and there. That’s ok. Life is going to happen. Unexpected events,
and changes are going to interrupt routines and schedules. That’s fine. Just
pick up and continue at the earliest possible time afterwards. Even if the end
of the year is when a change can be made, go ahead and make it! Don’t wait till
the next year. WE are not even promised tomorrow, let alone another January 1.
We all want to see some changes in our lives, some big and some small, and I
encourage everyone to do it…and do it now. Yeah, the new year starts tomorrow,
but that’s ok. Think of something you talked about on January 1 of THIS YEAR,
and set it to task. Don’t be discouraged. Find the life in it. The humor. The
fun, and adventure! We’ve waited all year to make that change, and as the old
comic that we all find so funny goes, “It’s December 31, I guess I best get
started.”
Happy December 31 2013!
