As I reflect on 2008, I am extatic on the way it turned out. I started semi unexited about the year, but in the end, I graduated, got my place and my job, went on my cruise, turned 25, survived a hurricane, sister got pregnant, came back to Christ and got baptized in the snow.
All in all, a really great year! But in the begining, like I previously mentioned, I wasn't excited at all. I didn't eat cabbage and black-eyed-peas for luck or money, and I didn't wear yellow underwear for love (Venezuelan tradition, but looking back...maybe I should have!) I didn't have some spectacular New Years Eve party; I hung out with friends. I didn't have a date...I did have a creepy stalker that petted me while I was sleeping.
Why am I saying all this? Not to rant and rave about how great my year was, even though I am incredibly thankful for all I've been blessed with, but to point out that the entire year is not a reflection of ONE DAY.
People (and by people I mean mostly women) plan for New Years like it's the end-all of what the new year will bring. It has to be the biggest party, the best night, and have the perfect kiss on midnight. We build it up in our heads, and then if one little thing happens, we are devastated. What is the point of this?
Don't get me wrong...I love a good New Year's eve party as much as the next girl, but I think we should change our thoughts about this. Since no amount of planning can control what will happen on New Year's Eve, or any other night, we should not think of it as a forecast of what is to come!
Instead, we should change our thinking to be a celebration on what has happened in the previous year. I know many people celebrated "Good Riddance" to 2008, a year that ended in recession and uncertainty. But where does this thinking get you? We should have thought about all the great things that happened and all the things God pulled us through. No year will ever be perfect. But if we choose to focus on thankfulness, we can prevent an inevitable let down of putting one day, one party, on a pedastal.
I wish I would have thought to write this prior to New Years Eve, but after seeing the long line of break up notifications in my facebook feed on New Year's Day, I think we should still reflect on it. So, if your NYE party didn't go as planned, you made a fool of yourself, or you suffered an unfortunate break up, remember, it's just another day. This too shall pass. Please do not forecast 2009 off of one day. And on Dec. 31, 2010, whatever unfortunate event happend this year, will just be one more thing you can celebrate that God brought you through.
HAPPY 2009---i PROMISE, YOU'LL BE JUST FINE :)
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