The New Year is quickly approaching… did you know it’s the start of a new decade??? Just 10 years ago we were panicking that the world was going to end or somesuch thing because the numbers hit a nice round shape.? I’m not in for conspiracy theories, but I do find the symmetry appealing.? Aside from new year’s resolutions, what I really want at the start of a year is tabula rasa.? All “to do’s” done; all projects completed, a clean house and a deep breath before beginning again.? Granted, I’d want this at the start of every week too, if I thought it was even remotely feasible.? But having a two week vacation (a.k.a. “ketchup days”, as my friend calls them) makes it much more likely.

People all seem to have their own quirks about the new year — some insist on a kiss and a cheer at midnight, some watch the countdown, some have dinner with family… my dad refused to eat chicken on New Year’s, as it somehow doomed him to chicken dinners for the rest of the year.? (I’ve never understood exactly how this worked… though I suspect that last January One I must have had a LOT of tea and toast.)

I’ll admit to being a NY Resolution person though.? Not the immeasurable mushy sorts of “lose weight/ eat more veggies” resolutions.? (seriously, you wanna waste an entire year’s goal on something you could achieve by eating salad for a few days??)? Mine are more specific, focused… I spend a few days writing and tweaking them, in the hopes that if I take care to present them well, I’ll have the same devotion to seeing them through.? Okay, so it doesn’t always work, but I’m pretty good about it.? (I blame it on my “list” personality.? If making lists was a superpower, I’d be Amazing.? But it’s not, so I have to rely on my uncanny ability to Find Things.)

I won’t bore you by sharing my resolutions with you, save that right now they pretty much revolve around the transition between being “gainfully employed” and “gainfully self-employed”.? (It’s the “gainfully” part that will hopefully continue to pay the mortgage.)? So far, I’m optimistically nervous (it’s what I do.)? But still excited… about a new year, a new outlook, and all :}

………………………………………..all the best to you and yours in the new year! ?? C.