I've never really understood it: the expectations of New Year; the resolutions; the celebration. It seems like the hopes of the world are pinned on one night (spread, as has been very tangible this year, over multiple time zones), and on the chance to start all over again, and change, or be somebody better, or have something better. And yes, it's a good excuse for a party or to be with people you love, but people really shouldn't need excuses for that. They should be able to do it with equal enthusiasm at any time of the year.
The point is: none of us need a New Year, when every day is a New Day. Every morning is the start of something; a brand new chance to improve yourself, to begin again, to cast off yesterday and have hope in the person you can be today. To resolve to be better, to do better, to think better. To stop bad habits, and find love, or get a better job, or simply behave with a little more kindness. That resolve - those resolutions - can happen every single morning, as soon as you open your eyes, and a new year means nothing when all it really consists of is 365 new days. Days to start again, even if you fail the day before.
The New Year is symbolic, but its symbolism is flawed. We don't get one chance a year to begin again: we get much, much more than that. And while it's harder to drink champagne to that every morning, it means so much more. You can be whoever you want to be the minute you open your eyes, and a calendar doesn't make the slightest bit of difference. A new start is there for everybody whenever they want it.
So: Happy New Year, everybody. And - much more importantly - Happy New Day.
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