HAPPILY NEW YEAR AFTER

It’s a new year. A new chance. An empty slate for all of us. Or so we choose to believe. The first day of the year comes, and we seem relieved. But why? Aren’t we just fooling ourselves? Aren’t we too old for fairy tales? And isn’t our tradition of a new year’s resolution just that? A happily ever after we promise ourselves in the future. A fable, for it hardly ever comes true. If we just do this or that it will be all within our grasp. Just quit smoking, stop cursing, start dieting and try to fall in love – and your problems will soon be over. They will solve themselves. Or at least that’s what it feels like.

Because men respond well to limits and boundaries. And best of all yet to a looming dead-line. Like just another day in the office. Only in this case the boss is invisible; our responsibility. And so some will deliver better work than others, depending on how much they can keep themselves in check. How badly they can print the resolutions inside of their brains, repeating the rules over and over again.

But did you mess up? Did you let yourself go? Don’t fuss, no panic necessary; a new year will come and then you may redeem yourself. Or reinvent yourself. Yes, a new year – a new me. And a new you. A fresh start and a clean conscience. Ah, a thought worthy of a toast! Raise or lower the bar how you see fit. Or keep it where it is if you need a little more room to breathe. You know you won’t let go entirely of the promises you kept to yourself. It gives us a sense of direction and purpose. As if we were, literally, moving along a road through our life. Discovering a new route every year. Reaching new destinations, leaving others far behind.

And maybe that’s the reason we tend to celebrate so uncontrollably. As if the fireworks could chase our demons and erase the mistakes from our past. With every bang a tear would disappear. With every glorious explosion of colour, a fear would be numbed. With every falling sparkle a regret would be forgotten. Surely, we would need more ammunition to do that.

But how do fairy tales end? With a smile and a dance. Music that fills up the sky and the sweet scent of hope. No cynicism in sight, even when glancing over at the sinners. It seems something as fragile and optimistic as a new chance and a new life is appealing to everyone. Because, when it comes down to it, who doesn’t want to believe? Although we might not get what we wanted – or planned… for a brief moment we sit there and dream, enjoying the magic of fireworks and the idea of our own newborn potential.