If ever there was a night to party, tradition dictates that it is New Year’s Eve so here I go, ever being the troublemaker and wondering why? Why does the turning of the calendar, on this one particular day, bring with it so much merry making? Other than the changing of the digits, that follow the comma in the date, at the stroke of midnight, the day really is no different than the other 364.
Even in my youth, I was never a big New Year’s party monger. Most years I am not even awake at the stroke of midnight. I do remember staying up to watch the Time’s Square Ball drop when I was a child, but as I got older and realized the value of sleep, the ball lost it’s charm.
We seem to put so much expectation into this one-day, and hope that it somehow holds the magic to right all of the wrongs in our life. Call me a cynic, but if it weren’t for the Babylonian festival celebrating the first new moon after the vernal equinox some 4000 years ago, December 31 & January 1 might just pass quietly by with no recognition.
Those same Babylonians brought us the practice of making New Year’s Resolutions. They made promises to pay off debts and return borrowed farm equipment in order to earn the favor of gods and start the New Year off on the right foot. I can’t help but wonder how many Babylonians broke their resolutions? One would think at some point we’d catch on to the pointlessness. (http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years)
Many people are unceremoniously slamming the door on 2016 because the presidential election did not go their way, or because many celebrities died. And? If your candidate lost the election in 2016, I’d venture to say 2017 is likely to be much worse because the winner actually takes power. What then?
How is the death of a celebrity more impactful than someone less well known? People die daily; mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and whether I know their names or accomplishments, their absence still leaves a void on the planet. Not to be morbid, but people will die in 2017 too, it’s part of life, so why do we place so much unrealistic expectation onto the turning of a calendar page?
Here is the truth, 2017 will bring with it the same prospects for health or sickness, crisis or opportunity, failure or success. It all comes down to how we navigate through. So, if your 2016 was miserable, you alone have the power to make 2017 better. Certainly there will always be circumstances beyond our control, but your decision to react or respond will determine where you stand at the close of 2017.
As the old saying goes, you can cry in your Wheaties, or you can make up your mind and determine in your heart that no matter what 2017 brings, you will face it head on and not allow the circumstances of life to dictate your attitude. I’m not saying it will be easy. Many days I struggle to get out of bed and face the day, and yet I do. Many times I want to curl into a ball in a dark room so that I don’t have to confront a trial, but I don’t give in to the desire.
And remember, as long as you have breath, it is not too late. If your 2017 is already off to a rocky start, don’t look into the distance hoping 2018 will arrive and make everything better, today is the day to make a change. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, all we have is now, and what we do with our now is totally and completely our choice.
Until Next Time,
Becky J Miller
“Warrior Princess”