The Scrooge of New Year’s Day

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I don’t do New Year’s resolutions.

For January 1st, I’ve never quit smoking, gone on a diet, bought a gym membership, or sworn to save money.

When this holiday rolls around, I don’t sit and reflect. I barely give a thought to the past year except to say, “Huh. That sucked. Hope next year is better.”

And it isn’t.

It carries over our current problems because they can’t be magically fixed overnight. It also delivers a whole host of new and different problems. So that’s exciting.

But that’s life, isn’t it?

We have our ups and downs. All of us. And some things are out of our control.

I will not set myself up to “fix” something I can’t fix or to “start” something I can’t start. If I make a resolution to lose weight or exercise when my health prohibits it at the moment, I’m setting myself up for failure and inevitable misery. Wonderful way to start the year.

The thing is, as I said in 2014, I feel pressured to look back over my year and write something meaningful. I simply don’t want to.

So I will do what I always do. Which is to say that I will be aware. Of my life, my actions, my reactions…everything. I will learn new things, set goals, better myself, and change what’s not working. I will try to make my life more positive. And I will do this throughout the year, not just the first few weeks in January.

I will ring in the New Year on December 31st but I will check in with myself all year.

 

Happy New Year, gentle readers.

 

My Sunday thoughts in (a wee bit over) 200 words.

ThoughtBubble

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Do you stick to them? (Let’s be honest…are they even realistic?)

 

Something new I’m doing this year is choosing a word: One Word. Something to focus on for the upcoming year. Look for my choice in next week’s post. It’s a fantastic alternative to resolutions.

 

This post from last year (The Scrooge of New Year’s Eve) really sums up how I feel about this holiday. I planned to repost it verbatim but wound up editing it quite a bit. Perhaps a fun challenge could be to see how accurate this post is each year. ?

 

40 thoughts on “The Scrooge of New Year’s Day”

  2. You’re not alone in being a New Year’s Scrooge. 🙂
    Staying intentional and purposeful throughout the year is way better than trying to reinvent our lives based on the calendar. There’s nothing magical about January 1st. With any resolution or effort, we’ll have ups and downs. We just have to keep pressing on toward whatever goals and desires motivate us.

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    • I love this comment. Exactly. There is nothing magical about this date. Or, alternatively, there can be something magical about any date. Staying intentional and purposeful is the way to go. Happy New Year. 🎉 Or…have a beautiful day/week/month/year. Here’s to moving toward our goals.

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  4. This is great “advice”, Sarah. I couldn’t agree more – wish I’d thought to say it. Each day I just want to learn more, be a better person, and work steadily towards my goals. I wish you better times in 2017. We change what we can and change our attitude to those we can’t. Perhaps.

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    • Yes. We must keep learning and growing. Otherwise… What’s the point? Ooh, I agree with your last statement there. You’ll see more about that in my One Word post. Thank you, Norah. Here’s to health, happiness, joy, and meeting our own personal goals. 🙂 Happy New Year! 🎉

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  5. I never make New Year’s resolutions and I rarely look back on a year and try to categorize it as good or bad. As you say, every year has ups and downs. I just try to be productive in whatever I do and work to make my own happiness. That said, Happy New Year!

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    • It is a challenge. It will be. But I much prefer checking in with myself to making a bunch of promises all at once. It never works. (At least for me.)
      Here’s to a wonderful 2017. Happy New Year! 🥂💖

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  8. Quite right, Sarah. I asked my partner the other day if she had any resolutions planned for New Year. When she responded in the negative, my exact words were: “Well done!” It’s an arbitrary date and bears no relation to your life or circumstances.
    That said, I wish you and your family a terrific 2017!

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    • Well done, indeed. Lifestyles, circumstances, goals… They are so individual, so personal. And we can’t all be ready (mentally or physically) at the same time. It really is arbitrary. Pick the third Tuesday of August or the second Saturday of May. As long as we’re happy, who cares? Yes…that said…Happy New Year to you and yours. 🎉

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    • Ha! Exactly. 💖 Like Miss Katie Scarlett O’Hara. Tomorrow is another day! I do agree there are so many choices, though. It’s overwhelming just thinking about it but it’s also kind of nice. Choices. I’ll have to think on that one…

      Happy New Year! 🎉

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  11. I often do make resolutions or set goals. I also document and share the progress as a way of kicking myself in the balls if I’m slacking or slightly pat myself if I did well. Just posted last year’s report card and this year’s goals. With other things, what I normally did was make a resolution to help me create a habit and I’m stubborn enough for it to work. 🙂

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    • Hey, if it works for you, that’s fantastic. You’ll be the first I’ve met, my lovely. If you count goals as “resolutions” (which, I suppose you really could), then I’ve seen it work. It’s not that I’m against making resolutions, it’s just that things change. Life changes. And what may have seemed reasonable in January may not in June. I like to check in with myself during the year to see if what I wanted in January is still what I want in March or November, you know? Or if it’s even possible.

      Happy New Year! 🎉

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      • I try to avoid labels and just do what I set out to do. I want to work out more? I do, but I stopped counting everything I did (reps, miles walked, etc.) I just focused on healthier habits, although for this year might focus on weight hahaha. Being away from the surf shows lol. but life indeed does change and the idea is to live fully and enjoy, not look for something else that you can beat yourself up with.

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  13. New Year’s has always been my favorite holiday, not for the resolutions, but because we always did a big ol’ Japanese food fest with my family growing up. I’ve tried to carry that over to my married life, inviting friends over for Surf and Turf at the Town’s End. It was a glorious feast this year. Of course, I didn’t bother to check to see if anyone was aiming to lose weight when I produced the sheer amount of food and homemade cheesecake to finish it off with.

    I suppose I’m a horrible enabler. 😉

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    • Aw, see, that’s different. Traditions make me all nostalgic for certain holidays. That’s an awesome way to celebrate New Years! We stay in, watch It’s a Wonderful Life, and eat sushi. I do love that part of it. Sounds like a good time was had at the Town’s End and I’m glad for it. Makes me smile. I hope your kids grow up to write the same thing about fond memories of glorious feasts on December 31st. Happy New Year! 🎉

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  15. I’m pretty much with you on this, Sarah. Why make resolutions that just set myself up for failure. 🙂 It’s terrible to say, but I’m a scrooge about all holidays, (except for Thanksgiving). Too much pressure. That said….have a great 2017! ❤

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    • Thanksgiving. I’m a Scrooge about that one, too. Don’t get me started on the settlers and the natives… ‘Tis no Charlie Brown special.
      Nope, no resolutions but a Happy New Year to you! 🎉 Have a wonderful year. ❤️

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