I’m one of those people who really likes New Year’s. Starting over, the blank page, tabula rasa. It’s my favorite holiday, for several reasons. I like the innocence of a new year, the purity of nothing written on it, the expectation that anything is possible. It’s often a reset for me. I must admit I like the food associated with the holiday as well. Black-eyed peas, collards, pork, cornbread, along with a little celebratory champagne, hit the spot after the richer foods of the holidays. Simple, yet nourishing to the body and spirit. For about 15 years or so, a small group of friends and I have celebrated New Year’s Day with a hike and covered dish supper afterwards. In addition to the attention to our bodies, we take time to reflect on the past year and ponder what may lie ahead. Often we share poems or inspirational writings that propel us forward with hope for the future. There’s something very special about sharing this holiday with those close to us, to feel that we are on the brink of something new, and we’re traveling together. One thing I have done for many years is make New Year’s resolutions. I learned many years ago that writing one’s goals down creates a higher probability that they will come true. Some years the only attention I give to those goals is that one act of writing them in my journal on New Year’s Day. When I look back at the end of the year, more than
START THE NEW YEAR OFF THE SMART WAY: Achieve Your Goals in 2025 BY BETTY HOLT
WINTER 2024
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