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The craziness of Christmas is behind us. The promise of the New Year upon us.
So whatever Christmas means for you and how you celebrate, or recognise, this time, I hope it’s been all you’ve wanted in 2019. Quiet or frenetic. With family and friends or by yourself. Working or volunteering. Or simply celebrating the lives and memories of those no longer with you.
Because at Christmas we know January is waiting in the wings. That Christmas and New Year will soon be a fading memory. And, if we’re not careful, 2020 will simply morph into just another year.
I’m fascinated that as the new year approaches we’re filled with optimism about what lies ahead. Often so glad to see the last days of the outgoing year. Ever hopeful the magic of the midnight fireworks, kisses from new friends, champagne toast, or singing Auld lang Syne will somehow mean that this year things will be so different…
Maybe they will. Maybe they won’t. You’ll know this time next year.
I believe the magic lies in the hope things will be different. Hope is a wonderful thing that gets us through the tough times. It can turn pessimists into optimists. Or families and friends into believers that it is possible to be, do and have what you want this year.
So it got me thinking a number of years ago…
What if we shorten the cycle from a year to a day? Taking time to refocus each night or morning, to make every day feel like New Year’s Day? To rekindle that hope every day?
And then remember that resolutions are simply goals. Goals so often set without realising that’s what they are. Destined to fail before they have a chance to succeed because they have no structure behind them or focus on them.
I confess I continually start with the plan of refocusing every day, and don’t always achieve it. Yet it keeps me on track. Especially when life has a habit of putting challenges, situations or events in front of me to test my resolve, resilience and resources.
Then, a good friend reminded me that, for many, Easter is the symbolic time of renewal. Maybe that means we could break the year into ‘halves’ or ‘quarters’? Reviewing progress at Easter and New Year – and two other points in between?
Well, let’s not overthink it.
It doesn’t really matter what time frame you use – a day, week, month, ‘quarter’, year – as long as it works for you. Allows you to refocus. Track progress. Modify your plan. Keep hope alive.
Because work for you it must.
So if this is something you grapple with, I’d love to hear from you. You can share your thoughts below.
As I close, I want to leave you with something a close friend said to me just before Christmas…
May we look forward to the new year with 2020 vision!”
To me, that says it all.
So, Happy New Year! Whether you make resolutions or not, may you be filled with all the hope and promise that leaping into 2020 brings.
Until next time…
Anne