A Word on New Years, Reflections, Resolutions, & Pressure { & Read-Alongs }

If you're involved in any type of online community (and, if you're reading this, we're going to assume that you are because logic), you've probably noticed a steady influx over the past couple weeks of posts sporting titles/content such as "year in review," "top ten xyz," "goals for [next year]," etc.  In fact, you may feel like you've been clobbered over the head with them.

Even I've contributed with my last two posts.  And, to be clear, there's absolutely nothing wrong with having fun looking back over your last twelve months, rehashing your favorite pictures or memories or books.  Nothing at all.

But have any of you ever felt oppressed rather than inspired by all the end-of-the-year hullabaloo?  Do any of you ever feel an unpleasant expectation to summarize your time or devote a certain amount of energy or excitement to celebrating the turn of the year (or, as in this case, the turn of the decade)?  Are you someone who doesn't thrive on goal-setting or resolution-making or word-picking?

Because, if so, I just wanted to let you know that that's really okay.  Every single day you wake up is technically the beginning of a "new year".  (And, once you make it past your tenth birthday, of a new decade.)  That rather takes the pressure off the end of the calendar year, doesn't it?  It does not make you a lesser or lazier person if you opt out of writing down ten ways you are going to improve your life over the next twelve months.  If you want to do that, that's great; enjoy every second of it and I'll cheer you on.  But if you'd rather treat the last day of December like any other old day, that's fine, too.  Because, you know, depending on how you look at it, it kind of is. 😛

I don't mean to dampen anyone's enjoyment of the New Year's holiday.  Maybe you love getting dressed up and going out on the town and counting down the seconds until midnight with friends you adore.  That's wonderful.  But maybe you love staying in and watching movies and eating food and spending a quiet night with family and not staying up till midnight.  That's wonderful, too.  However you celebrated last night (assuming certain boundaries of propriety and safety 😉) is enough.  However you've reflected or not-reflected and resolved or not-resolved ⎼ that's enough, too.  

December 31st is not a magic day.  January 1st is not your only or best chance to implement changes in your life.  If you don't feel like going back over your Instagram feed for a top nine, skip it.  And please don't feel any guilt or doubt about it.  You do you, boo. ♥

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As a reminder, the Till We Have Faces read-along starts the day after tomorrow, on January 3!  Make sure you've got your copies and highlighters at the ready. 😉  Hope to see many of you join!

And thus, with Sheldon Cooper's glorious weirdness burning in your eyes, I leave you.