To answer your question at the top of your conversation: Yes!
The other day a woman who lives in the complex next to the one where I live, having had only a few brief conversations with me, took my hand, smiled, and said, "I like you. You're different." Then she got in her car and drove away.
I agree with you, Lady Curmudgeon, that New Years is a waste of effort, doing something you will likely stop doing in short order.
When it comes to holidays I don't share the joy others seem to be sharing. Indeed, I appreciate the way Jehovah's Witnesses view holidays: they don't. Not even birthdays. No expectations that will turn sour in when what you were hoping for doesn't happen.
I think I might be an old grump when it comes to doing things with others I'd rather not do.
Selfish? Damn right I am. I spent most of my life taking care of others and not thinking of myself. That on top of the necessity to work until you're too old to do what you wanted to do in those years. Then, oh boy! Retirement comes along and you find that doing for others all your life left you with nothing but Social Security to live on in America's fourth most expensive city.
All that said, I have truly enjoyed my life because, more important than making promises to yourself, keeping a happy countenance of yourself, being loving towards others, and walking away from hateful people rather than giving them the physical fight they seem to need to prove their strength, well, I like me. I'm different.
I have never been into making resolutions. It seems so forced and artificial. Like goal setting. I have never been good at that, either. Hubby used to try to get me to imagine where I'd like to be 5 years out and 10 years out. I always drew a blank. I knew where I was headed and had an intuitive feel for what I wanted, but couldn't define it in words. Probably because it's more about a state of being than a physical state.
I have always enjoyed New Year's Eve and being awake for the turnover of the clock or the drop of the ball or whatever. It's just simple fun marking the change over of the year. The change over of the odometer from x9999 to x0000 is just as fun. When it got close, we used to drive around until we could watch the odometer flip over. That was when it was a rotating dial. Now that it's digital it isn't as much fun. Y2K, we sat up with TV and electronics on, watching to see just how this blurp in our technological planning was going to play out. We were so disappointed that nothing happened.
And I've never felt it was truly my birthday until 11:35 pm, the hour of my birth.
Sheryl I know exactly what you mean about the turning of dials there issomethig satisfying about it. I am so glad we all have different viewpoints and emotions on so many things. Life would be so boring xx
This is awesome Jo! I got a chuckle because I am currently writing a series about creating change in our life . It's geared to thinking about things now to be able to start in the new year, AND I also agree with you. I have run the gamut of feelings about the start of a year - from thinking it's baloney and just a day (this is so true) to deciding to quit drinking alcohol forever on January 1 (a huge life change at the start of a year).
I love the solid suggestions from the Mental Health Foundation that you shared, they are things we can implement all the time that will create a shift in our lives. I also love the quotes at the end!
The thing is that for most folks January 1 signals a fresh start in our mind, whether we celebrate a holiday or not. Because we know it's a different year it signals our brain that something has changed and it may make us want to change. Most of these ideas don't stick because we aim for something different while also trying to stay the same. I am not one for new years resolutions but I am very big on personal growth and working toward living as our best self (yes, I get that sounds like a ridiculous Instagram post🤣) which can start any day of the year but it won't happen without a lot of effort which is why I have found it very helpful to prepare in advance.
I'm not on TikTok and I don't follow any influencers so all I can hope is that my writing and work offers a deeper connection to our truest self rather than trying to fix something or set a dumb resolution.
What a brilliant reply Donna. I agree it has become etched in our psyche. It’s just we gave up welcoming the New Year years ago and became a curmudgeonly old couple. My husband may no longer be here but I think he would be pleased I continue the tradition. He was the ultimate grump with an incredible dry wit 😁😁😁😘
To answer your question at the top of your conversation: Yes!
The other day a woman who lives in the complex next to the one where I live, having had only a few brief conversations with me, took my hand, smiled, and said, "I like you. You're different." Then she got in her car and drove away.
I agree with you, Lady Curmudgeon, that New Years is a waste of effort, doing something you will likely stop doing in short order.
When it comes to holidays I don't share the joy others seem to be sharing. Indeed, I appreciate the way Jehovah's Witnesses view holidays: they don't. Not even birthdays. No expectations that will turn sour in when what you were hoping for doesn't happen.
I think I might be an old grump when it comes to doing things with others I'd rather not do.
Selfish? Damn right I am. I spent most of my life taking care of others and not thinking of myself. That on top of the necessity to work until you're too old to do what you wanted to do in those years. Then, oh boy! Retirement comes along and you find that doing for others all your life left you with nothing but Social Security to live on in America's fourth most expensive city.
All that said, I have truly enjoyed my life because, more important than making promises to yourself, keeping a happy countenance of yourself, being loving towards others, and walking away from hateful people rather than giving them the physical fight they seem to need to prove their strength, well, I like me. I'm different.
I have never been into making resolutions. It seems so forced and artificial. Like goal setting. I have never been good at that, either. Hubby used to try to get me to imagine where I'd like to be 5 years out and 10 years out. I always drew a blank. I knew where I was headed and had an intuitive feel for what I wanted, but couldn't define it in words. Probably because it's more about a state of being than a physical state.
I have always enjoyed New Year's Eve and being awake for the turnover of the clock or the drop of the ball or whatever. It's just simple fun marking the change over of the year. The change over of the odometer from x9999 to x0000 is just as fun. When it got close, we used to drive around until we could watch the odometer flip over. That was when it was a rotating dial. Now that it's digital it isn't as much fun. Y2K, we sat up with TV and electronics on, watching to see just how this blurp in our technological planning was going to play out. We were so disappointed that nothing happened.
And I've never felt it was truly my birthday until 11:35 pm, the hour of my birth.
Sheryl I know exactly what you mean about the turning of dials there issomethig satisfying about it. I am so glad we all have different viewpoints and emotions on so many things. Life would be so boring xx
Completely with you on all that, Jo. Making New Year resolutions just sets you up for failure, and I'm well enough practised at that as it is.
I know exactly what you mean Lynn, but then again what is the definition of failure? Xx
I think, for me, it's not reaching whatever ridiculous, unrealistic bar I've set for myself - see the positive in getting part way, lol
Aren't we all? But what the heck? Failures often turn into something learned. Then you can conveniently forgive yourself for a failure.
True....pick yourself up, dust yourself down and move on 🙂
This is awesome Jo! I got a chuckle because I am currently writing a series about creating change in our life . It's geared to thinking about things now to be able to start in the new year, AND I also agree with you. I have run the gamut of feelings about the start of a year - from thinking it's baloney and just a day (this is so true) to deciding to quit drinking alcohol forever on January 1 (a huge life change at the start of a year).
I love the solid suggestions from the Mental Health Foundation that you shared, they are things we can implement all the time that will create a shift in our lives. I also love the quotes at the end!
The thing is that for most folks January 1 signals a fresh start in our mind, whether we celebrate a holiday or not. Because we know it's a different year it signals our brain that something has changed and it may make us want to change. Most of these ideas don't stick because we aim for something different while also trying to stay the same. I am not one for new years resolutions but I am very big on personal growth and working toward living as our best self (yes, I get that sounds like a ridiculous Instagram post🤣) which can start any day of the year but it won't happen without a lot of effort which is why I have found it very helpful to prepare in advance.
I'm not on TikTok and I don't follow any influencers so all I can hope is that my writing and work offers a deeper connection to our truest self rather than trying to fix something or set a dumb resolution.
What a brilliant reply Donna. I agree it has become etched in our psyche. It’s just we gave up welcoming the New Year years ago and became a curmudgeonly old couple. My husband may no longer be here but I think he would be pleased I continue the tradition. He was the ultimate grump with an incredible dry wit 😁😁😁😘