The beginnings and endings of all human undertakings are untidy. ~Anonymous
New Year's Eve has come and gone, along with Christmas, Hannuka and Kwanza. The official season for celebration is reduced to VALENTINE'S DAY preparations (for one thing, a made up holiday, and for another. in the middle of FEBRUARY). Prepare for a dry spell, party lovers.
Having said this, I am not a big fan of New Year's Eve festivities. Not because I begrudge anyone fireworks and a good champagne buzz, and certainly, everyone should begin a new calendar year with a tasty kiss. However, I have come to believe that one day at a time is as good as it gets, and celebrating 365 at a time overwhelms me. I know, I know. I accept ownership of this problem, and genuinely wish I was one of those people who gets goosebumps when the ball drops--it would certainly be a tidy and satisfying way to celebrate a new beginning.
I have noticed that time passes fairly furtively. In my case, it is for the protection of my mental health. If I were able to truly absorb how transient and delicate each day's activities are, my heart would break and I would never leave the couch. Or the asylum. Intellectually, I know that one day, I will pine for the time when I had children climbing all over me (sometimes literally) and couldn't finish a sentence without one or two "MOOOMMMMMMMM..." interruptions. In this instant, I am grateful that all my children are healthy, happy, and with their grandparents! See? It's sneaky how precious things sneak in and out of our daily shufflings.
And so it is with New Year's celebrations. Many things can happen in a year. One year, I fell in love. One year, my mother died. One year, I stopped drinking. Hell, one year, I started. One year, I had three jobs. One year, I stopped working. One year, I had a baby. When events happen to me, great or small, momentous or trifling, they happen one at a time. Mostly, I don't plan for these events, nor can I. Should I?
Live every day as if it is New Year's Day. Because, really, it is. Every day that you wake up and find yourself above ground, it is a new day, ready or not. And it could be your last day. Or it could be the day you meet the person you will marry. Or it might be the day you win the lottery or lose your job. But each day is its own package, with its own expectations and events. So, if January 1st is a big deal to you, I am little jealous. But I can't get too invested in one calendar date, because, well...
January 2nd will be here before you know it and I need to conserve my resources. Plus, Valentine's Day is right around the corner.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34
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