Happy New Year! It’s crazy to believe but 2020, “the year of vision,” is finally here.
I have always found the hype that surrounds this holiday mildly perplexing. What is it about a date—about a series of numbers, really—that makes December 31st and January 1st so special? Yes, the Christmas season is coming to a close and we are welcoming the birth of a new year, but nothing makes these dates markedly different from any of the other 365 days of the year.
Right?
Perhaps it all depends on how you choose to look at it.
Personally, New Year’s Eve has never been a significant holiday for me. Rather than dressing up, going out, and braving the thronging crowds, I much prefer dressing down[1], staying in, and playing board games at home with family and friends[2].
There’s something almost anticlimactic about New Year’s Eve: We’ve just experienced 364 days of everything life has to offer—joy, sorrow, excitement, frustration, hope—and then quickly try to cram it into one action-packed day of celebration.
For me, this just doesn’t work.
For starters, pulling this off is nearly impossible. There’s no way to sufficiently reflect and truly take stock of a full year in one measly day. While this might be a good place to start, ideally reflection and personalized growth should occur all year long. Why should we wait for one day to make decisions that will better ourselves and improve our lives? Why not capitalize on the other 364 opportunities—and all of the micro opportunities that exist within each of those 24-hour periods, for that matter—and embrace the power we have to make a difference whenever we so choose?
We can strive for change at any point in our lives so long as we make the intentional effort to do so. And, to be clear, when I’m talking about “change” I’m not simply highlighting the positive feelings of euphoria and accomplishment that come with making measurable advancements. Yes, this certainly is a part of change, but it isn’t the part of change that makes change possible. It’s impossible for beauty to come without pain, and lasting change requires you to be uncomfortable before you can grow.
Life is defined by a series of opportunities and how we choose to react to them. Rarely do things unfold “according to plan,” and, in order to stay happy and remain optimistic, we must make an intentional choice to embrace both the good and the bad in equal measures. As I write this, I’m sitting in O’Hare International Airport delayed nearly four hours for my return flight to Minneapolis[3]. Instead of freaking out and letting my frustration consume me (which, of course, would have been easy to do—no one wants to spend over eight hours in an airport), I decided to look on the bright side, embrace the delay, and use my “found time” to track down a new airport hotspot and enjoy a salad and a local beer[4]. Would I rather be home earlier? Yes. Of course. But does this work, too? You betcha[5].
I’ll say it again. Life is defined by a series of opportunities and how we choose to react to them. You only have 365 days each year: Choose to make them count.
To celebrate and uphold this brave intentionality, I would like to propose five New Year’s Resolutions I believe we could all benefit from adopting. While of course we are in different places along our life journeys, everyone can continue to learn from each other and grow in these following areas:
1. Ditch the Screens: As I sit here, the family to my right is all on their phones. All. Five. Of. Them. I’m sorry, but what a freaking disgrace. Are they technically eating together? Yes. Is there any meaningful communication happening? Absolutely not. While this family is not alone in its tragic plight, I bemoan that this has become common practice for many Americans. Be it computers, phones, or tablets, all of us spend far too much time in front of our screens and far too little time interacting with those who mean the most to us. Yes, technology is a blessing that allows for progress and continued discovery, but it also prevents us from truly experiencing the present moment and embracing the here and now. Therefore, let us make a purposeful effort to “unplug” and avoid the screens whenever we are in the presence of true human potential.
2. Embrace Quality Time[6]: Chase opportunities that maximize engagement and minimize distraction. While these experiences are different for everyone, often they are the actions that propel us from our daily routines and launch us into something new. Identify whatever it is that makes you tick and do more of it. And, while you’re at it, bring the people you love along with you for the ride.
3. Practice Saying “No”: Modern life demands we be all things for all people at all times. Indeed, this culture feeds a society of “yeses,” and we live in perpetual fear of saying “no” because of the consequences it can have on one’s image. However, constantly saying “yes” often prevents us from pursuing opportunities to further recharge and/or invest in ourselves. We can’t be the best versions of ourselves if we are stretched so thin that we start to lose sight of ourselves in the process. To combat this, practice saying “no” in order to create time and space in your schedule; then use this time and space to pursue something that is important to y-o-u. Say it with me now: “N. O.” Now doesn’t that feel better?
4. Be an Everyday Hero: Being a “hero” doesn’t require a cape and super-suit. Rather, extraordinary people are made in the seemingly ordinary actions that transpire daily. Google’s “Year in Search 2019” commercial captures this perfectly and resonates with me in a very profound way. In a world filled with conflict, hardship, and unpredictability, we all have the power to exude kindness, “boss up,” and empower others each and every day.
5. Remember – New Year, Same You: Yes, 2020 is here, and yes you have the power to grow, learn, and continue to define (and even redefine yourself.) Choose to fully embrace this development and all of the beautiful things that come with it. However, as you continue your journey be sure to remember your roots and stay true to who you are and where you’ve been. People commonly claim “New year, new you,” and while this is true in a way, envisioning yourself as 100% “new” fails to recognize your larger journey. Yes, life is full of opportunities for progress and self-improvement, but by doing so we don’t write over that which once was. Life isn’t about the race; it’s about the marathon, and we should embrace the process— good, bad, and ugly. You are you: Past, present, and future. This year, instead of creating a “new” you, choose to honor the road you have already traveled by laying out where it is you want to go next.
Yes, something powerful happens when the crowd counts down, the ball drops, and the clock strikes midnight. But the power doesn’t stop here. I’m starting to think Cinderella had it all wrong: You don’t have to wait for the stroke of midnight to “find your prince[7]” and transform your life. Rather, the possibility for change is constant, and we can always take one step closer towards living the lives we’ve always dreamed of.
And, if we look closely enough, many of us may realize we’re already there.
Let’s embrace 2020 to its fullest and challenge ourselves to whole-heartedly go after that which we most desire.
Let’s live like there’s no midnight.
[1] Sweatshirt and yoga pants for the win.
[2] And, if I’m being honest, watching Pitbull’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve on TV. What better way to welcome in the new year than by watching Mr. 305 shake it from the comfort of your own home? Nothing, that’s what. Dale.
[3] A return flight that lasts for a whopping fifty minutes. By the time I board, fly, and touch down in the Land of 10,000 Lakes it will be safe to say I could have gotten there faster by car.
[4] Or two.
[5] In fact, I arguably stumbled upon some creative time I wouldn’t have otherwise had to write a post I may have not otherwise written. There certainly is something beautiful about planning tobesurprised.com.
[6] See: “Ditch the screens.” Enough said.
[7] Or whatever it is you are looking for, for that matter. (It’s not all about the prince, Cinderella: Let’s dwell in a world of possibilities.)
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