Newness

I imagined a funny smugness amongst the people at the supermarket at opening time this morning.

‘Well, we didn’t succumb to the alcohol-fuelled artifice that is New Year’s Eve.’

‘We don’t have a self-inflicted sore head today.’

‘We subscribe to the logic that a twelve-month period can begin anywhere in the cycle. It’s only a peculiarity of the Gregorian calendar that it happens today.’

You can approach it as you will. Regardless of your views, though, there is a sense of a new beginning at the start of another year. It is an inspiration point for many a positive decision or aspiration. Resolutions, we call them.

‘I resolve …’

‘I will …’

‘This is my year for …’

Some research indicates that most resolutions are broken or left behind in the first few months of their making. But is that important? Does that matter? Is not the simple recognition that there is room for learning, moving forward, new pursuits, self-understanding, better health or improved relationships enough on its own? By recognising something we make it conscious and that is the vital step. By making changes to facilitate growth we have put something in train. If the final outcome is reached, that is an absolute bonus but, even if it’s not, we have seen a goal in the future and had enough hope to make a statement about it. Once we have begun to find a way to get there, advancement has happened regardless of achievement.

It’s hard not to get the tiniest bit excited about even the imagined clean slate of a new year. The blank canvas possesses so much potential and whether or not we have the means to realise that potential is secondary. The fact that it can encourage us to think about ‘what could be’ and keep us looking ahead is sufficient.

Until later and Happy New Year,

Kirsten