Welcome to the first full week of 2009!
You know what I like best about the whole Happy New Year thing? The fact that it clearly marks the end of the old year. There are waaay too many times in life when "the end" is not that clear. Consider:
- The dating/marriage/lovers/whatever has ended, but you still spend a lot of time together
- You retired/resigned/got laid-off/whatever, but you still work there periodically
- The new president/boss/whatever is here, but the former leader is still actually in charge
- You dieted to lose 20 pounds, but now you realize that you have to "live" on that wacky diet
You get the idea. So here we are, finally clear about the fact that something is over. TGIO (Thank God It's Over)! That seems especially true for 2008. If you weren't depressed about the economy, the lack of world peace, the deteriorating environment or your relationship by the end of last year, you were practically depressed about the fact that you were one of the few people who wasn't. TGIO! The new beginning gives you a lift. Somehow, just knowing that the year can't get any worse is a relief. So what if it had to end in order to break the losing streak.
The End is the beginning of a transition. Right now we are all, in some way, making a transition. It can be as significant as bringing a child into your life, or as mundane as adjusting to putting 2009 on your checks. The End -- the beginning of a transition period -- can also be a blessing, no matter what the specifics of the year wind up looking like. When asked what I want for my birthday, I always say, "Another one." If we get another one, we're doing alright.
What will you do with your transition time? I've decided to embrace a quote from one of my 2008 calendars (yes, I had more than one): "You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream." C.S. Lewis. I had to have lots of endings to get to that, so TGIO!
