"10... 9... 8... 7... 6... I think he wet himself..." The holiday season is over... and I'm officially back to work without interruption... finally.
Christmas and New Year's Eve... they're kind of a big deal. There's a lot of anticipation, excitement, and hype around the holiday season that just passed... but what if you had to choose one over the other? Christmas Vs. New Year's. While I do love Christmas and all the fun it has to offer... mainly eating chocolate and guessing gifts, I'd choose New Year's... hands down. It's probably one of the most important days of the year... socially speaking. For most, Christmas (or whatever you celebrate) is about taking a few days off work, spending time with family and friends, good food, and sharing gifts. It's a time to get people together and... you know... remember what's important in life. If you really think about it though, it's forced... and it's selfish. Pretty much everything around you during this time of year (the deadline that is December 25th) is pushing you to do these things because it's the norm... it's expected. Come up short... you'll know it. ... but what if we made the effort to get together more often throughout the year? What if we simply gave gifts throughout the year out of pure generosity and thoughtfulness? What if we picked up the phone, texted, emailed, skyped, whatever, to let those we haven't heard from in a while know we were thinking about them? The Christmas most people, willingly or not, participate in is based around stores clearing out their inventory and prepping for the next year... but with Black Friday and Boxing Week sales, do we really need to play pretend anymore? Maybe keep the December 25th event for the kids... for fun... similar to how we keep October 31st going... but we really wouldn't need to put nearly as much hype into Christmas if we kept the true spirit of Christmas alive and well throughout the year. New Year's/New Year's Eve on the other hand is a time to get together with friends and family, perhaps exchange a few gifts and party... wait... that sounds a lot like Christmas... oh yeah, and ring in the new year! So... how is New Year's really that different than Christmas? What gives it the edge? New Year's to me is about one thing... resolutions... a fresh start... time for change! Many of us aren't self motivated. We can't just think of a new plan today and start tomorrow. Most of us need a nudge to get going and that's why we see so many people signing up for gym memberships, looking for new jobs, going back to school, starting diets, etc, the week of January 1st. Unlike our Christmas lists, which are wants, our New Year's resolutions are needs! Those lifestyle changes and improvements we've been thinking about for who knows how long, January 1st is that hard date where socially everyone is on the same page. Everybody wants to get a good start to a better year. It's the one free pass where anybody can make an abrupt lifestyle change and nobody will be surprised because it's a New Year's resolution! It's the day to stop thinking about it and start doing it! Again, Christmas is fun but I feel like it's a pacifier for our wants and a band-aid for, most honestly, our ego. It feels good to give and receive gifts. It feels good to see the smiles on our loved ones faces when we come through the door... but often it's an attempt to make up for a years worth of being too busy to make the time or give the thought... kinda like that guy who only buys a girl (or guy, this is 2013) flowers on their birthday. It's the thought that counts, but it's kinda cheapened once you factor in the circumstances. New Year's resolutions are personal. They're a chance to take a step back, look at how your last 12 months went and what kinda changes you think will make the next 12 better... and in response, you make a commitment to self improvement. Work toward your goals and enjoy the sense of accomplishment. Improve your quality of life and you will improve the quality of life of those around you as a result... think about it. It always comes down to the individual... and I'm the type to make tweaks throughout the year... but I love hearing and seeing the changes in people's lives this time of year. While new socks and boxes of chocolates make people happy... it's the commitment and hard work... the progress and payoff... that's what gets the serotonin going... and that's a gift that keeps on giving... because it's like chemicals in your brain. - Mike
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Mike Langford - Official BlogBeing on both sides of the glass, I get the chance to wear many hats in the music industry. This is a place to share my thoughts, views, predictions, rants, stories and news! Categories
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