January 1st is high on my list of "WTF?" days. Folks make a big deal out of what is quite literally just another day. Do we celebrate the 1st of April? Or maybe June? No. So why do we give into the hype of January 1st? "Oh, but it's a fresh year, it's a new start," I call B.S.! Everyday is a fresh day and a chance for a new start. Unless you are celebrating every single day like it matters then treating January 1 any differently is just hollow.
I'll admit I wasn't always this jaded about the first of January. Truthfully, my growing apathetic view of the day could be because of my line of work. In the benefits and insurance game, at least 80% of businesses renew their benefits on the first of the year Of that 80%, darn near 75% of them wait until the last minute to get their paperwork submitted. That causes major stress for folks like me who work their behinds off to get things done in a timely fashion. And for what? No appreciation. [Parents, whatever you do, steer your kids away from the benefits industry. It is a thankless job, needlessly stressful, and makes December and January the worst months of the year. Seriously. Avoid it at all costs.]
For all of you "New Year, New Me" people, do yourselves a favor. Start with a new day, then work your way up to a new week, new month, new quarter, then a new year. Baby steps. Biting off more than you can chew will only hinder the process. Set attainable goals. I do. I even accomplished mine for today. I actually got out of bed. Woohoo! Yay me! Tomorrow I'm going to step it up with two goals, get out of bed and get dressed. And I will celebrate those accomplishments if I attain them.
People, I'm not trying to be a Wendy Whomp Whomp, I'm just keeping it 100. We as humans make all of these big plans, spend money on needless holidays and things that will supposedly make us happy, and then 2 months later we're back where we started. Weight Watchers, Planet Fitness, Franklin Covey, DayTimer, Under Armor, and the others like them love your enthusiasm. You are lining their pockets while emptying yours and paying for someone else's vacation home.
Stop! Just take it one day at a time. Tomorrow isn't promised anyway, so how about just celebrating the day itself, even if it is just another Monday.
