It’s a big deal, this New Year thing. Every year we wish everyone we know a better year than the year before. We also reflect on our own accomplishments, and blunders, in order to make resolutions about what we want to accomplish in the coming year. This tradition almost sounds religious.

The Time of Our Lives

Aside from the parties and fireworks, people look forward to this moment in time when they can say, “Phew, I’m glad that year is over and I can begin again.” But in reality 11:59 on Dec. 31st and 12:01 on January 1st, is no different than the minutes that pass on any other night of the year. It’s a new day, it’s a new year, every day.

It’s funny how we feel this strong need to measure time, accomplishments and our value. It’s a universal human trait though so there must be something to it. Let’s face it, we want our life to have meaning and value, so we measure it by some type of standard.

• I want to be smart
• I want to be beautiful
• I want to be strong
• I want to be successful
• I want to be rich
• I want to be healthy
• I want to be happy
• I want to have fun
• I want to go places
• I want to accomplish things
• I want to help people
• I want to be loved

Last year may have been okay, or it may have been disappointing, but either way we want to start over and do better. We want more, more of all the good stuff. We want life to live up to our expectations and somehow, deep inside, we know that means “I” have to live up to my own expectations. So we’ve created this ritual where we psychologically get to “start over”, or “begin again” at this annual point in time.

Growth is Continuous

Now, I’m not saying this ‘begin again’ thing is bad, just kind of funny. If you watch a plant grow and blossom you will notice that it’s life cycle is continuous (unless you almost kill it and then bring it back to life, which I have done). But usually, a plant doesn’t start over. It may go through cycles of flowering, bearing fruit, dropping leaves, sprouting new leaves, etc. but it doesn’t stop and start over of it’s own accord. Neither do other animals. It’s uniquely human (with the exception of butterflies).

Let’s compare this ‘start over’ thing to human growth. The real New Year for you is your birthday. Do you start over or do you just continue on? Is there a dramatic change in your size, height, weight, intelligence, maturity or good looks that takes place every year at the moment you were born? No, change is gradual, continuous, and most of the time we don’t notice that it’s happening.

Honor life, love, and the ability to learn and grow

We celebrate birthdays to honor someone’s life. We celebrate the people we love, and we recognize the passage of time in their life because they have grown and learned many things in that time.

Perhaps that’s what the New Year is really all about too. Kind of a Universal Birthday Party where humanity can celebrate it’s growth and development. Life has been lived, love has been experienced, learning and growth continues, and to facilitate these wonderful things we make new goals. We plan with eager anticipation our continued ability to live a life we love.

Happy New Year

Happy Day of Victory of Love

May we all find solutions for our troubles and live in love, knowing that each day is a gift and an opportunity to do something good, to add value to the world, and to celebrate life!