“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey
Celebrating the New Year
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, according to Gregorian calendar are December 31 and January 1st. But historical records indicate New Years celebrations by Babylonians on the first moon after the spring equinox (March 20) when day and night are equal. The Babylonians celebrated for 11 days and the occasion was a time of renewal for their ruler; that is, a new king was crowned or the divine authority of the present king refreshed. The Egyptian New Year occurred with the rising of the star Sirius and the flooding of the Nile. Meanwhile the Greek Orthodox New Year, following the Julian calendar is January 14th.
When it comes to celebrating New Year’s Eve in the US, the dropping of the Times Square ball is well-known. But did you know that there are two pickles that are dropped? Or that there is a Lucky Carp that people kiss after it plunges to earth in the countdown at midnight? These are but a few of the odder events of New Years.
From Resolutions to Guiding Words
Resolutions, or at least, making restoration to those who have been wronged in the past year, come from ancient times. Around 45 % of American’s say they usually make a New Year’s Resolution but only 8% of people are successful in achieving those resolutions. So it’s a challenge to acknowledge this custom and make it one’s own.
Many bloggers and the #BCSM twitter group have come up with a novel idea. They choose three words to act as benchmarks or guideposts throughout the year. Here’s an example where Nancy Stordahl chooses her 3 words and then writes their meaning to her:
“This year the three words I’m going with are persevere, growth and contentment.
There are many things I want to persevere at such as writing my memoir, getting my ebook into print and making healthier life-style choices – the list goes on and on in my head; putting it all into practice, now that’s another matter. As a person, I want to grow in many ways as well. I could stand improvement in countless areas. I guess we all could… And as for contentment,… Contentment will happen naturally if I manage to persevere more at certain things and if I do manage to grow even a bit, right? Contentment doesn’t mean settling, it means being satisfied with doing what I am best able to do on any particular day and remembering that effort always counts. Plus, I wish to find more contentment as I embrace the here and now of each day as it unfolds.”
Staying in the moment is the challenge for many. Live unflinchingly: tasting life the way you do the last homemade chocolate cream in the box or savoring its essence as you would the fragrance of summer’s final gardenia.
T3: Cancer’s taught me that the vision and goals will always change. Very few things in life can be “planned” #bcsm
— Alicia C. Staley (@stales) January 3, 2012
T3;) cancer shook me to the core, confronted me with reality of mortaity, made me take stock so I decided to recalibrate and refocus #bcsm
— Philippa Ramsden (@feistybluegecko) January 3, 2012
@jackiefox12 Our resiliency knows no bounds. Mankind can, and does, survive the most horrendous things. #bcsm
— Brenda Coffee (@BCSisterhood) January 3, 2012
Live unflinchingly: acknowledge the crisp, deep blue of an October sky, relish the exhilaration of ocean spray on a winter day, enjoy the vibrant calls of cardinals in April and delight in the fresh laugh of a toddler.
@stales T2: We all have the resolution to live life and be healthy, but the truth’s a little scary because it’s out of our hands. #bcsm
— Brenda Coffee (@BCSisterhood) January 3, 2012
@BCSisterhood You know what they say, If you want to make God laugh, make a plan. But plans are important. #bcsm
— Jackie Fox (@jackiefox12) January 3, 2012
Some goals can help us, building our strength for the times that might not be so easy, and giving us heart for when times are good 🙂 #bcsm
— Philippa Ramsden (@feistybluegecko) January 3, 2012
For me, having these goals has been a reminder to make the most of good times, appreciate the good things #bcsm
— Philippa Ramsden (@feistybluegecko) January 3, 2012
@stales T2 good question, I was just thinking tonight that any day can be the first day of a new year, each day has great potential #bcsm
— Debbie Thomas (@debmthomas) January 3, 2012
Join the #BCSM crew on January 5th 2015 at 9pm ET for their 4th annual three words dance.
With that we wish you luck (no carp kissing required) and a Happy New Year from all of us at Medivizor.
