I received several messages today wishing me a “happy new year”. The personal ones were via emails, text messages, and few, the good ol’ pick-up and talk, way. Many others, via social media status updates. Some of these later ones I may not have noticed in the clutter of things, or because a certain algorithm didn't consider me worthy of the message. But, that’s for another day.

For today, I want you to consider the three words, happy, new, year, together.

I jokingly asked someone today what difference does this one make; the dates change every day at the stroke of midnight?

And, happy? By whose terms, mine or the well wishers. If the later, then chances are pretty slim (perhaps a handful in few billion) that I will be happy by your (or for that matter anyone else’s) standards. And, if it is by mine, then, by wishing, you are making the assumption that I know what makes me happy and how I may set forth to achieve it in the year ahead.

Quite a significant assumption.

However, amid the analysis of the significance of a year turning over, or that of the completeness of the definition of happiness, the new gets ignored.

That is perhaps what binds the happiness, however defined, to the collection of time that lies ahead.

The newness is from learning from our past, but moving past its shadows. From, anticipation of a future furthered by the positive actions of today. From, the fear that we may not achieve all that we aim for, and from that we may not aim higher. From iterations, and big swings. From, the recognition of old, shaping of new. From, taking stock of what you receive, being thankful.

So, here is to, not a better or happier, but a new new year.