New year...

Yeah, it's that time of the year again. Everybody is making lists of resolutions, putting on some fancy stuff, buying some even fancier salad dressings and sauces, making tables full of foods and sweets or parties full of friends and welcoming the brand new digit that's going to be haunting us all for the following twelve months. All of this being performed in a rather festive and slightly anxious tone, one that complements the season.

People are going to fill major squares all over the world, going to gather in small groups of friends or family and are going to welcome in the new...Well, just exactly what is it? Of course it's a year, that's what everybody's saying all day long. But is it just that or is there something more to it?

A few years ago we had a big one because it was the gateway to a new millennium and everybody was afraid that the computers are going to say "ooops, can't add a zero. Sorry dude", thus throwing us into a new dark age. So as the story goes we sent off the old 0001 to his retirement and ushered in the brand new 0002. It was a regular retirement party with food, music and dancing as well as stories. Oh, and at some point of the night all the PCs decided "eh, what the heck? Let’s humor them. Dudes, we'll give you your zero, OK?"

In a couple more years, two by my count, we shall have a new decade. Now that will most definitely be shinny and quite possibly provide a brand new chance to bring out the old end-of-days prophecies. Undoubtedly someone will discover concrete proof of such a terminal event and will spread it. But then again, the world will probably go on as it is. After all, we are funny little people and what supernatural all-powerful force wouldn't want to keep us around?

So, that being established, let's go back to this year. What exactly makes it so special? After all, it isn't the first year of a brand new big sum of years, nor has it gathered a great deal of significance for anybody. Still, there's something about it.

Well, here's a crazy theory of mine. The whole buzz regarding the new year comes down to one lil' word: new. All the excitement, all the craziness starts from the prospect of a shinny new toy. Face it folks, we are nothing but kids no matter how old we think we are or look. Not that there's anything wrong with it.

This year brings along new adventures and surprises. It brings along the promise that there will be a clean slate upon which we will be able to carve pictures of new friends or old ones that have returned, stories of our great successes and of how we have managed to overcome new difficulties or old ones that have been with us for some time. That's what makes the new year so great.

In the end, in the last minutes before midnight of the 31st of December, we all turn to the promise of a clean tomorrow. One that will not carry the same gifts and tests like the last one, one that shall forge us anew in a different shape and size. With this promise of growth and new adventures we walk into the great unknown of the new year, counting our steps until we reach the edge...3...2...1...Happy New Year!

*My wish to us*

May we grow not only in size and wallet, but also in character and spirit. Health and joy to be our constant companions, but without us being forgotten by grief and hardship so as to not take what we have for granted. May friends be with us because there's nothing more precious. And may we have a tale to tell when we great each other at the next step into the unknown.