Get Caught Up in the Hype of New Year's!

I wanted to cancel New Year's this year -- too much hoopla!
Pedro Subercaseaux [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

I Like 2015 So Far!

Hey there! Happy New Year to you! So far, I am liking 2015 quite a bit better than 2014. It might sound kind of silly but I am serious! 

It's funny how the holidays seem to allow us to open up more and share more. This New Year's Eve, I talked to people I haven't talked to in years, danced with my gorgeous husband, for the first time in, I think, EVER. I feel a peace I haven't felt in a long time. 

Why I Wanted to Cancel New Year's

And the funny thing is about my warm feelings is that this year, I really wished we could have cancelled New Year's. I just wasn't feeling it. 

Slightly depressed, I just kind of felt like it was way too much pressure and hoopla. After all, technically, it's just one day on the calendar. 

And resolutions? Why bother?

If I want to lose weight, I reasoned, there is no special reason I need to make that decision on this particular date.

I didn't feel like reflecting on the mistakes of the past year, because I had made way too many of them. And I didn't really care for making goals for next year, preferring to take things one at a time.

And I think this might be a common feeling among those of who have been struggling this year. The whole holidays, including New Year's, can seem like an awful lot of extra pressure. 

So, I stalled. Tried to ignore the onslaught of Best of 2014 articles and posts on making all those smart goals. 

Even my brother-in-law showing me his detailed goals, broken down into beautifully organized categories into the program, One Note, did not move me.  But then ...

Why I Couldn't Cancel New Year's Eve

"Hope" is the thing with feathers --
That perches in the soul --
And sings the tune without the words --
And never stops --- at all -- 

-- Emily Dickenson 

As we got closer to December 31, I was drawn in by the utter and undeniable hope of this beautiful holiday. 

At what other time of year are we allowed, even strongly encouraged to admit our mistakes?

When else do we loudly proclaim our intentions to people we barely know?

Yes, New Year's is a ready-made, hand-delivered socially acceptable excuse to be cheesy, sentimental and reflective.

And most of all, who does not want a new start, a chance to start from scratch? We all want grace. To have our mistakes left in the past. And to start again.

A New Year is a marker in the endless blur of our days. A time to stop and look, at what has been done, and what has been neglected. 

So, on December 30th, on New Year's Eve Eve, I made a request of my gorgeous husband. Could we sit down and do some reflections about our last year, and what we want next year to look like? 

What made me change my mind about this holiday? It was the draw of hope. This has been a hard year for us, with adjusting to a move, and me quitting my job, and a myriad of other smaller problems. 

The Smell of Hope Drew Me In

But the smell of hope drew me in. A fresh start. It was too alluring to resist. And once again, as I do ever year, I took part in a ritual which goes on all over the world, in different forms. 

My husband and I prayed the New Year in this year.
Jean-François Millet [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

My husband and I prayed. We made our peace with our mistakes, sins and fears from 2014. And we renewed our commitment to the things that are most important to us. 

Our shared resolutions were simple: to spend time daily getting to know God through prayer and Bible reading. And to exercise regularly. Taking care of our spirits. And our temples. 

As you enter the New Year, I encourage you to revel in the excitement. Let yourself be caught up in the hope, and the hype!  With all of the bad news we see coming every day from our screens, don't feel bad about feeling and needing hope. Hope is what keeps us alive. 

If you haven't taken part in our annual ceremony of renewed hope and desire, I encourage to try it. Even if you feel cynical like I did, you may be surprised at how good it feels. 

And for those of you who have made resolutions, or goals, or expressed desires, please feel to share some here. I would love to hear how you would like to improve in 2015! 

Take care, and God Bless! My hope for you is renewed strength, courage and faith. And love, happiness and peace. 

Love Sharilee. If you like what you are reading, sign up through my Facebook page. or receive posts by e-mail by joining here.