A New Year

Just like that, another year has come and gone, each one flying by quicker than the last. New Year’s Eve is a polarizing night. On one hand, you have the people who can’t stand the idea of it. “New Year’s is never as fun as you think it’s going to be.” “Your expectations are always too high.” “Resolutions are pointless because no one ever follows through with them." “That was so anticlimactic.” You get the idea. 

But then you have people, like myself, who spend the five days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve reminiscing, reflecting, evaluating and crafting a list of resolutions and goals for the upcoming year. People who spend the 10-second countdown to midnight basking in the fact that, once every 365 days, we get to start the day in one year and end it in the next. It’s a night that brings 2015 to a close and opens the door to the endless possibilities that come with 2016. Call me a walking cliché, but I think that’s a really nice idea. 

Here are three reasons why I love NYE and always will:

1. It forces us to reflect

When we’re so focused on achieving our goals and reaching the next step, it's easy to get lost. New Year’s gives us a chance to turn off our autopilot mode, slow down and set aside some time to look back on how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go. It helps us remember to celebrate our triumphs and learn from our mistakes. It gives us the opportunity to cherish fond memories and revisit old wounds. It helps us refresh, reevaluate and reprioritize. Before you can move on to bigger and better things, you have to reflect on where you are right now.

2. It keeps us moving forward

Change is good. It is also, arguably, very hard, but sometimes acknowledging the need for change is the most challenging part of the journey. New Year’s allows us to see where we’ve been, and as a result, helps us gain a clearer understanding of where we want to go as we embark on a new year. People can look down upon resolution-makers all they want, but for those of us who are goal oriented thinkers, NYE is the créme de la créme of goal-making. When the clock strikes midnight, we find ourselves presented with a year that can go any direction we choose to take it. Creating a list of concrete and realistic goals for ourselves can prove extremely helpful in moving forward on our paths to wherever it is we want to be. (Bonus: this year is a leap year, so you have an extra day to work on your list of resolutions!) 

3. It gives us hope 

When the ball drops (or rises, as it does in my hometown), even if it’s just for the most fleeting moment, it feels as though all of the history of the last year has been replaced with an entirely fresh start. When you wake up in the morning, all of that history will still be there, of course, but sometimes all it takes is that split second of excitement, energy and ignorant bliss to push us forward and inspire us to face that history—both the good and the bad—rather than try to erase it. In this world full of chaos and negativity, we rarely have the opportunity to feel such collective anticipation and optimism. NYE gives us that chance. It gives us hope for what’s ahead. 

Maybe the idea of New Year’s is too cheesy for some people. Maybe we shouldn't need a specific night to look back on the past and set goals for the future. Maybe it’s true that most people don’t follow through with the resolutions that they so excitedly share with their friends and family on December 31. But beyond the sparkly outfits and champagne toasts, there is a bigger picture-- a picture of reflection, progress, and hope. 

Here’s to another year and making each one better than the last. Happy 2016!