As the year is winding down to a close, I notice the sudden pop up of the "New Year, New Me" posts on social media and blogs. I've been asked many times of my New Year's Eve plans and few have asked me what my goals for the new year are.
Let's get a couple of things straight.
I work during the day on New Year's Eve, most likely an almost full day. I will get up at 6 AM (or try to - snooze buttons are amazing) and travel from Corona, Queens to Wall Street, Manhattan. I will take the bus for 15 - 20 minutes to the R train and then alternate between standing and sitting for about 28 stops. I will get to work, make sure things are going smoothly with everyone (thanks to added on responsibilities.), and I will be counting down the minutes till I get on the R again. For most companies, it's the end of the year so the priority is making sure everything gets in, not New Year's Eve plans. I will be one tired lady at the end of the day and snuggling in bed with a book or a special someone while drinking tea sounds so much more appealing (Oh my goodness, I am such a writer - a book and tea? Haha!).
But what is New Year's Eve really?
The end digits of the calendar will change, but how does that affect our day to day lives? I could go celebrate the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 one night, but end up in the hospital or dead in the next two (knocks on wood!). What have I really achieved here? What have I celebrated? The change of year? The days change every day. Everyday we face new challenges and life is lived a little differently, even when things are seemingly routine. Heck, minutes change all the time. When I was a kid, my cousin and I used to have this thing where when we noticed the changing of the time, we would say, "Happy New Minute!" It was hilarious and delightful. It was also a little wise of us because we should be celebrating every minute, every day. New Year Goals? Psh, the concept is nice, but my goals year to year end up changing because of my day to day. One day, I want to write about being a lover scorned, but after I go through certain things within the span of the day or next couple of days, I want to write about hearts and Cupid.
Then we have the concept of "New Year, New Me".
Making changes in your life is good. It's a wonderful thing. Change is scary, but when you have goals in mind, it's satisfying when you have results. Everyone should always make a list of goals they want to achieve. My problem is the whole "I'm going to do it for the new year" bull. You're telling me that within the month of December, you will make a list of goals, but you won't start anything until January? WHY?!? What is stopping you? You want to eat better? Don't chow down on burgers every other day then say on January 1st, I quit - Hello Celery. You want to exercise? The gym accepts your money all year around! You want to try a new hobby? These things take time to learn. Instead of waiting until January to get piano lessons, how about you at least inquire and see when you can start lessons as soon as possible. If something happens to you between now and January, guess what? You just wasted time.
The "New Year, New Me" concept during this time of year is also impersonal. Everyone is doing it and sometimes there's so much pressure to do it better than anyone else. Even your list of goals can get competitive around certain people if you share them. There's a slew of emotions of that come with the over sharing of these goals for the New Year that I honestly don't want to get into. Especially because if you tell me, I will remember and be mildly disappointed when you don't follow through. I'll be like, "Why not? You are absolutely capable." I also apparently give these eyes that makes everyone want to either tell me their secrets, feel as if I know they have secrets, or that they have done something wrong - so I might give you "the eyes" too.
But all joking aside, these list of goals can consume people. Personally I rather make a list of goals around my birthday so that it's more personal (and so I don't have to hear about everyone else's goals all at once - I am a Summer baby!). Either way you do it, guess what? If you don't achieve a goal by a certain time, it's okay. Just keep working at it. Accept that though we may want to go to the gym everyday, that it may be only possible to go once or twice a week. If you do that, you're already doing better than those who don't.
We have to celebrate each day, each victory, each downfall....everything!
So what if the year changes? The day changes! You don't have to go to a party and be socially awkward, drinking just so the time is more enjoyable on one evening a year just for that moment when the clock strikes 12. It strikes 12 everyday. We don't have elaborate parties for that. We don't go and dress up for Monday becoming Tuesday. We just live.
So asking me about New Year's Eve or New Year's goals or who my "New Year, New Me" is going to be is pointless. Ask me how I am changing today and possibly tomorrow. Celebrate the fact that it's Friday and the work day is half way done (and that I posted a blog during lunch). Be in the now.
But this is just how I feel. And I might be dragged into a New Year's Eve activity after work or I may go home to that book and tea...or special someone. I may have a secret list of goals because I need new goals all the time once I achieve the old ones. It's just convenient that it's around this time. I just wanted to point something out...and vent a little. It came up in conversation today at work and it made my fingers itch to write something (Thank you very much for the idea B.M.!).
It's not Happy New Year for me. It's Happy New Day...or may I dare say it...it's Happy New Minute!
Enjoy the rest of your holidays my loves. If I don't have time before the year is out, here is your year-end post =)
Let's get a couple of things straight.
I work during the day on New Year's Eve, most likely an almost full day. I will get up at 6 AM (or try to - snooze buttons are amazing) and travel from Corona, Queens to Wall Street, Manhattan. I will take the bus for 15 - 20 minutes to the R train and then alternate between standing and sitting for about 28 stops. I will get to work, make sure things are going smoothly with everyone (thanks to added on responsibilities.), and I will be counting down the minutes till I get on the R again. For most companies, it's the end of the year so the priority is making sure everything gets in, not New Year's Eve plans. I will be one tired lady at the end of the day and snuggling in bed with a book or a special someone while drinking tea sounds so much more appealing (Oh my goodness, I am such a writer - a book and tea? Haha!).
But what is New Year's Eve really?
The end digits of the calendar will change, but how does that affect our day to day lives? I could go celebrate the end of 2013 and the beginning of 2014 one night, but end up in the hospital or dead in the next two (knocks on wood!). What have I really achieved here? What have I celebrated? The change of year? The days change every day. Everyday we face new challenges and life is lived a little differently, even when things are seemingly routine. Heck, minutes change all the time. When I was a kid, my cousin and I used to have this thing where when we noticed the changing of the time, we would say, "Happy New Minute!" It was hilarious and delightful. It was also a little wise of us because we should be celebrating every minute, every day. New Year Goals? Psh, the concept is nice, but my goals year to year end up changing because of my day to day. One day, I want to write about being a lover scorned, but after I go through certain things within the span of the day or next couple of days, I want to write about hearts and Cupid.
Then we have the concept of "New Year, New Me".
Making changes in your life is good. It's a wonderful thing. Change is scary, but when you have goals in mind, it's satisfying when you have results. Everyone should always make a list of goals they want to achieve. My problem is the whole "I'm going to do it for the new year" bull. You're telling me that within the month of December, you will make a list of goals, but you won't start anything until January? WHY?!? What is stopping you? You want to eat better? Don't chow down on burgers every other day then say on January 1st, I quit - Hello Celery. You want to exercise? The gym accepts your money all year around! You want to try a new hobby? These things take time to learn. Instead of waiting until January to get piano lessons, how about you at least inquire and see when you can start lessons as soon as possible. If something happens to you between now and January, guess what? You just wasted time.
The "New Year, New Me" concept during this time of year is also impersonal. Everyone is doing it and sometimes there's so much pressure to do it better than anyone else. Even your list of goals can get competitive around certain people if you share them. There's a slew of emotions of that come with the over sharing of these goals for the New Year that I honestly don't want to get into. Especially because if you tell me, I will remember and be mildly disappointed when you don't follow through. I'll be like, "Why not? You are absolutely capable." I also apparently give these eyes that makes everyone want to either tell me their secrets, feel as if I know they have secrets, or that they have done something wrong - so I might give you "the eyes" too.
But all joking aside, these list of goals can consume people. Personally I rather make a list of goals around my birthday so that it's more personal (and so I don't have to hear about everyone else's goals all at once - I am a Summer baby!). Either way you do it, guess what? If you don't achieve a goal by a certain time, it's okay. Just keep working at it. Accept that though we may want to go to the gym everyday, that it may be only possible to go once or twice a week. If you do that, you're already doing better than those who don't.
We have to celebrate each day, each victory, each downfall....everything!
So what if the year changes? The day changes! You don't have to go to a party and be socially awkward, drinking just so the time is more enjoyable on one evening a year just for that moment when the clock strikes 12. It strikes 12 everyday. We don't have elaborate parties for that. We don't go and dress up for Monday becoming Tuesday. We just live.
So asking me about New Year's Eve or New Year's goals or who my "New Year, New Me" is going to be is pointless. Ask me how I am changing today and possibly tomorrow. Celebrate the fact that it's Friday and the work day is half way done (and that I posted a blog during lunch). Be in the now.
But this is just how I feel. And I might be dragged into a New Year's Eve activity after work or I may go home to that book and tea...or special someone. I may have a secret list of goals because I need new goals all the time once I achieve the old ones. It's just convenient that it's around this time. I just wanted to point something out...and vent a little. It came up in conversation today at work and it made my fingers itch to write something (Thank you very much for the idea B.M.!).
It's not Happy New Year for me. It's Happy New Day...or may I dare say it...it's Happy New Minute!
Enjoy the rest of your holidays my loves. If I don't have time before the year is out, here is your year-end post =)
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