A friend sent me a message today that said the 1st of January is just another day. It is neither a beginning nor an end, because it’s actually just a continuation of things as they were going on; and it will carry on in just the same way, even after today. I thought that message was very thought provoking, since there was so much of truth in it.
So often, we look at the last day of the year as something that is over; and we look forward to the New Year, with so much of anticipation. We bring in the New Year with celebration, fanfare and a grand countdown. Lots of people make resolutions, that they hope to keep at least for a while, if not right thru’ the year. There are so many things, that go along with New Year celebrations - lights, parties, new clothes, and what not.
I was asked these questions a number of times today, by so many different people…So, how did you celebrate the day? Did you do something special to bring in the New Year?🤔
Even as I thought over my answer to those questions, the entire day flashed across my mind in seconds; and it was so easy for me to pick out, what made this day special for me.
I brought in the New Year to the sound of music that I love…The music was made, in the company of friends, who love to sing together - friends, from my choir. We laughed, we joked, we sang to the accompaniment of a piano, we laughed a lot more, we danced, we dug out some really old songs, from extremely old books and sang them together, we added our own harmony and style to the singing, we pulled someone’s legs and then we laughed some more.
I brought in the New Year to the sound of music that I love…The music was made, in the company of friends, who love to sing together - friends, from my choir. We laughed, we joked, we sang to the accompaniment of a piano, we laughed a lot more, we danced, we dug out some really old songs, from extremely old books and sang them together, we added our own harmony and style to the singing, we pulled someone’s legs and then we laughed some more.
It was late, but I wasn’t tired; probably because I was too happy to notice, what time it was. At an unearthly hour, well past midnight; we shared a meal together and chatted some more over the meal. The New Year had begun; and I went to sleep, with a smile on my face.😊
The morning of the New Year, began with me singing God’s praises in Church, with a choir, that was seriously short of its usual quorum, thanks to the late night we’d all had.
The morning of the New Year, began with me singing God’s praises in Church, with a choir, that was seriously short of its usual quorum, thanks to the late night we’d all had.
Following that, I spent a nice quiet day at home and sent out wishes, to as many friends as I could. The replies that kept coming in right through the day, was one of the things that made my day.
During the day, I caught up with my cousins, my students, some ex-students and a few of my colleagues from school over the telephone and in cyberspace.
After a quiet day at home, I was back to singing for a wedding mass in the evening, at which the priest was an old and dear friend, who is always a joy to be around. I spent the evening watching a movie at home with my family and then catching up with a cousin of mine after ages over the telephone.
I also got a chance to test my friend's riding skills, a couple of times in the day, as I took the risk of putting my life in the hands of a bike rider, with a thoroughly confused sense of direction. Despite the underlying sense of fear about my well-being, as I stepped onto his new found love – his bike, I finally got back home in one piece. While I’m grateful for the ride home, I’d also like to add, that if the offer comes my way this often, it might soon become a cost-effective but a not so healthy habit.
And now, it’s just past midnight again. The first day of the New Year has drawn to a close. What was really exciting about the day? Nothing!!! Did I do anything drastically different from other days? Other than a few exceptional things like wishing people for New Year, not really...And yet, at the end of the day, I would say, I had an awesome day. My day was indeed extra-special.
Isn’t it great to know that we don’t need celebrities to grace the occasion, for it to be special? We don’t need loud music and fire-crackers, to brighten up our day. We don’t even need a five-course meal to celebrate...All we need to make moments of our life special is to spend time in the company of those we love, doing the things we love. That’s all there is to it.💕
I agree that the New Year isn’t really a new beginning or the end of something grand. For me, it’s just the continuation, of times spent in the company of people who matter to me. It’s one more chance to enjoy a song, a chat, a conversation, a message from an old friend, a joke, a laugh, an everyday incident, a friend’s company, a meal, a memory.
After a quiet day at home, I was back to singing for a wedding mass in the evening, at which the priest was an old and dear friend, who is always a joy to be around. I spent the evening watching a movie at home with my family and then catching up with a cousin of mine after ages over the telephone.
I also got a chance to test my friend's riding skills, a couple of times in the day, as I took the risk of putting my life in the hands of a bike rider, with a thoroughly confused sense of direction. Despite the underlying sense of fear about my well-being, as I stepped onto his new found love – his bike, I finally got back home in one piece. While I’m grateful for the ride home, I’d also like to add, that if the offer comes my way this often, it might soon become a cost-effective but a not so healthy habit.
And now, it’s just past midnight again. The first day of the New Year has drawn to a close. What was really exciting about the day? Nothing!!! Did I do anything drastically different from other days? Other than a few exceptional things like wishing people for New Year, not really...And yet, at the end of the day, I would say, I had an awesome day. My day was indeed extra-special.
Isn’t it great to know that we don’t need celebrities to grace the occasion, for it to be special? We don’t need loud music and fire-crackers, to brighten up our day. We don’t even need a five-course meal to celebrate...All we need to make moments of our life special is to spend time in the company of those we love, doing the things we love. That’s all there is to it.💕
I agree that the New Year isn’t really a new beginning or the end of something grand. For me, it’s just the continuation, of times spent in the company of people who matter to me. It’s one more chance to enjoy a song, a chat, a conversation, a message from an old friend, a joke, a laugh, an everyday incident, a friend’s company, a meal, a memory.
...and as each new day of 2009 unfolds before me, I thank God for every day of my life that has gone by before this. I thank him for all the moments that’ve made my life special thus far; and more importantly, I’d like to thank him for all those experiences that are still to come, in the future. ✍️
