New Year's Resolutions - Bah Humbug?

January 1st. A new year arrives soon to our waking eyes. But what truth do we celebrate? The date itself remains somewhat arbitrary. First chosen by Ceasar then moved around a bit, January 1st remains simply another day in our lives.

Some will die in these three days before the new year arrives. Many will die once it arrives and runs its course. More and more I feel the over-indulgence of holidays limits our ability to take each day we live and breathe on this planet as special.

I tell you true, right now, should I live to see January 2nd, that day will hold just as much 'special' meaning to me as January 1st. We gear up so much for these individual dates, the bulk of the days we live appear to fall into an "also-lived-in-it" type category.

I've seen the stats on New Year's resolutions and how many fall by the wayside throughout the course of the year. Why become over-wrought with who you desire to be? Why not learn to enjoy who stands in front of the mirror?

I enjoy quite a bit of what comes with all the hype and hoopla of New Year's Day as well. I love football. Yet, even with sports, I am finding I prefer a good bike ride or a walk in the brisk 'winter' weather of Florida to staying cooped up inside watching electrons dance across a screen. I'd rather be the one dancing.

Maybe my view of New Years Day, as well as other holidays we celebrate, falls into jaded, apathetic. and indifferent areas. My feeling though, leans more to a growth and understanding of how precious life is. In my 53 years, I find I now appreciate our world on a higher level. The man-made aspects of hyping particular days pales to the glitter of sunlight off breeze-blown leaves. The frantic parties dull next to smooth jazz in my ears while cruising with the wind on my bicycle.

James Taylor wrote, "The thing about time is that time isn't really real. It's all on your point of view. How does it feel for you?" The song remains beautiful in my life and grows with significance with each beat of my heart. He titled the song, The Secret O' Life .

I write books. Short stories. Poems. Like many writers, my passions soar and plummet. I ride the broncing bronco of creativity's ups and downs. I wonder at the days I squandered without the knowledge I possess today. I marvel that I will look back at this particular time in my life and say the same thing, provided I am blessed with coming years.

I say celebrate each day as the New Year. In truth, each day begins a new year. We tend to label beginnings and ends based on others' interpretations. Since not one of us holds a guarantee of tomorrow, why not consider your resolutions finite, 'now' items. You cannot work tomorrow nor can you work yesterday. You cannot play tomorrow nor can you play yesterday. You cannot make love tomorrow nor can you make love yesterday. 'Now' for the duration of your life cradles your moment to live.

Please do not label me an anarchist or crackpot. I realize the necessity of calendars and planning and dreaming. I write stories. Books. Poems. These creations involve planning and calendars and dreaming and many other 'time sensitive' concepts. Yet, there drifts through my soul a furtive knowledge that we take these concepts, so seriously at times, and miss the true beauty and joy of what our lives can deliver to our inner selves as well as to a world that needs more introspection and less aggression.

My desire today flowers from a heartfelt plea to people everywhere to find something real to enjoy. A blade of grass. Dust. A crinkly brown leaf. A clear blue sky. Puffy white clouds. Roiling, thunderous, rain-filled clouds. Snowflakes. Ice. Water. Rocks. Mountains. Oceans. Waves. Views. Your breath. Your sight. Your loved ones. A laugh. A giggle. A tear. A wail.

With each new year, I crept closer and closer to voicing this view. Now that I'm here, hope stirs my fingers to reach out and attempt to send a message to those of us who feel trapped by deadlines, sputtering dreams, and pressures. Each moment stands as an opportunity to celebrate. One of the finest celebrations I know manifests in taking an action meaningful to your existence here on Earth.

Will what you do in the next moment propel you closer to joy in this life? It's a shame we must struggle to get to where we live in each moment and appreciate the moment as something vastly special. Even in our troubles. It's most difficult there, isn't it?

You can consciously place yourself in each moment of your life. You must work at it. I, by no means, have this perfected. I realize, though, that I most often take myself out of joy by allowing myself to get caught up in someone else's opinion of where, who and what I should be. Find your appreciation for the 'moments' of your life and share them with others.

After all, we're in this together. We might as well help each other out, right?

New Year? Bah, Humbug!

New Moment? Now that's the ticket...