Who New?

Take a deep breath. Soak it in. It’s 2015.

Last night, while putting my 3 year old to bed, I attempted to explain the concept of a new year to him. I told him that tonight (New Year’s Eve) was special because tomorrow (New Year Day) is the beginning of a brand new year. I tried telling him that this represents hope, change, and potential for many people. Naturally, he asked “Why?”

Well, I explained, because some times things in life don’t got the way you want and the feeling of a fresh start can be a good thing.

“Why?”

“Good night, buddy!” It was bed time and I was ready to relax. This conversation wasn’t seeming to go very far so let’s shut it down and talk about it at another time.

I went downstairs and began cleaning up the kitchen, not really thinking about the conversation in particular. Then, out of the blue, it hit me. Titus doesn’t need a new year to start fresh. He just needed me to tell him goodnight, kiss him on the forehead with an “I love you” and “Who’s my best buddy?” before turning the light off and shutting his door. Boom, done. No resolutions. No tinkinerg with lists. No prerequisite reading to know how to do it right.

Just sleep. Wake. Live. With lots of hope and wonder connecting those dots.

Don’t mishear me, though. I’m still using today as my 2015 strategic planning day. I’m reflecting, writing, and envisioning. Even so, there is a lesson here. Part of the imagination and creativity — innocence, really — that is so lauded in children and lost in adulthood is summed up in this idea perennial newness. Of knowing that new is always around the corner. That today’s imagination can bleed straightway into tomorrow, no calendar, countdown, or ball drop needed. A little bit of hope and a few hours of sleep is sufficient to start fresh.

Of course, it need not be forgotten that many people in our society, not to mention the majority of people the world over, don’t have nearly the range or depth of hope that I am afforded as I write this or you are as you read it. Nevertheless, that truth doesn’t negate the fact that we do have it afforded to us.

Perhaps one of the best ways to start the new year is in imagining — as childlike as we can muster — how it is that we can bring this blessed reality of having the opportunity for new beginnings every year — every day! — to those who currently don’t.

To those of us who have a mini-New Year every single morning, let’s make each one count for those who don’t.

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Happy New Year!