ANNUAL LOOK AT WHEN IS THE START OF A NEW YEAR AND MAKING RESOLUTIONS

 Time for my annual discussion on years and resolutions.  

We have all been brought with the idea that December 31 to January 1 is the change of the year.  One sits at that point and looks back at what one has done and looks forward to coming year and what they would like to do (or not do) in the coming year.  One may not do this formally –  even if no resolutions one does this in their head.  

Similarly when one's birthday comes along the passing of time is in our head – how long do I have left?  What do I want to have done by next year's birthday or what do I want to stop doing.  

In the same way every day is the start of a new year.  Various religious and cultural groups have a different date for when the new year comes than the Christian calendar – Jewish New Year, Muslim New Year, Asian New Year… As I do every year, I offer my Jewish New Year to all of you as a start date for changes in what you want to do in life as well as in organizing.  Yesterday, Tuesday September 8, started the new year for us – it is considered to be the day that Adam and Eve were made.

Use this time as a chance to start fresh for a new year without needing to wait for January 1.  No resolutions – just pick one thing that you want to change – one thing – and do it.   Don't drop your jacket on the end of the staircase when you come in – hang it in the closet or on its hook.  Don't leave the dishes to do them all at the end of the day (and then end up saying ala Scarlett O'Hara “I'll think about doing them tomorrow).  Wash your dishes after every meal you have – or if you use a dishwasher put them in after every meal.  

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK -

Whatever small thing you can do to make a change – do it - TODAY!  Then set another day which will be next your next “new year” and plan what you will start to do then.  Little steps add up to big organization and lack of clutter.  It took years or decades to get to where you are  - you will not catch up in a day or a week or a month, perhaps not even in a year – but little steps add up.

TODAY IS A START OF A NEW YEAR - DON'T WAIT FOR JANUARY 1

 It is time for my annual mention that a new year starts every day.  Everyone decides at the end of the common (Gregorian) calendar year  - December 31 – to make resolutions – to lose weight, to go back to school, and for most reading this list – to get organized, get rid of the clutter in the house and clean the house.  

But every day starts a new year and can be used the opening to make a resolution or attempt to make a permanent change in our lives.  Over the past week it was the start of the Jewish new year. The Jewish (religious) calendar starts with a holiday called Rosh Hashanah, which in literal translation means head of the year.  We eat sweet things to look forward to a sweet year to come.  It is followed 10 days later (which are called the Days of Awe) by another holiday called Yom Kippur (which means Day of Atonement).  It is a period in which Jewish people look back at the year which has passed and pray forgiveness for their “sins” – large and small and then fast on Yom Kippur and spend the day (in normal years) in the synagogue praying and asking forgiveness of God – having already spent the 10 days asking forgiveness of those around them for sins, slights, and related against those around them.  We also ask God to write us into the Book of Life for a good year to come (and boy do we all need that right now).  Understand that we are making resolutions to be better in the year to come – same as one makes resolutions to do so for December 31.  

The Chinese calendar's new year is between January 21 and February 20 – like the Jewish new year the day varies over different dates in the common calendar as the number of days in these calendars is not 365 as they are lunar calendar (12 months of 28 days each) with no annual adjustment for the difference between in the number of days between the lunar and solar calendars.  (We have leap months instead of leap days, an extra month added every so many years.)

Similarly the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar – in this case there is no adjustment for the difference between lunar and solar calendars so dates and holidays in the Islamic calendar as it rotates through it's 12 month cycle will annually fall at different times during the year.  

Okay, I know – you did not expect a class in calendars, but my point in this is that one does not have to wait for January 1 to decide that THIS is when you are going to make a change in your life – any day of the year can be your new year to make a resolution to change something about your life and start getting rid of clutter and getting organized  - and yes, even start doing better at the dreaded cleaning.  

Pick something to start with – it may not be what bothers you (or your loved about you) the most, but pick something and start doing it – today.  I won't say, as many do, that doing something on a regular basis makes it a habit, but instead each day deal with what you have picked to do.  When you get to the point where you think you have it control – it is another day and pick something else to do.

Right now – in the middle of writing this post I have to run down to the laundry (I heard it beep) and transfer the clothing to the dryer and throw in our Covid-19 face masks to wash in a separate load.  I will be right back, don't go away….  Okay, I am back.  

So don't wait for January 1 – start now by doing one thing new or change how you do something now – today is the start of a new year (and of course you can instead start tomorrow if you need to plan – it is the start of a new year also).  After all, you are probably home due to the corona virus pandemic anyway – might as well get something organized and get some rid of some unneeded stuff.

THOUGHT OF THE WEEK -

Our lives are very different than they were last year at this time.  Take the gift (and yes, every day of life is a gift) of the time you have and do SOME THING with it.  Work on getting organized – or ignore organizing to spend quality time with those you love.  

As I posted last week, my husband has recently decided that we should take a walk at a local park.  I would much rather be home getting work done, but I understand his need to go out and do something, anything.  It is just the two of us (and all the others also out walking or fishing or sitting or playing) as walk – not briskly, but not just strolling around the park.  Of course I have things waiting for me to do, but being with him and doing something he feels he needs to do is more important at this time.  We have all been reminded of what a precious gift life is.  Let us not waste our time here and do something for or with and spend time with those we love.