There Is No New Year

Before I start with telling you why there is no New Year, let me wish you a Happy New Year. Tradition demands that ‘when you go to Rome, you do what Romans do’. A year by now you will be celebrating all the big wins you have been praying for. Cheers to big blessings and wins!

Understand that there is no New Year. For what we are celebrating as New Year is the earth’s travelling around the sun. Scientists believe that the earth travels around the sun in 365 days. By this we believe there is a new start to our lives and the things around us.

However, the movement of the earth around the sun after 365 days does not necessarily usher us into a new year. If you enjoy the celebrations and jubilations that churches and businesses promote. That is fine. Enjoy it and make the best out of it while it lasts.

Now according to the Islamic calendar, the year 2023 for them is the year 1444. The last month of the year in their calendar is the month for Hajj, when they go on their pilgrimage in Mecca. For the Ethiopians, they are in the year 2015. These little evidences should make us see that the New Year thing is only a construct.

Anyway, the typical number of days in the Ethiopian year and what is widely known is 365, but the Arabic calendar has 355 days. In other cultures, the number of months and days more. In the Evè tradition, amongst the Anlos, there are 14 months in a year. This is more that the 12 months known from the western culture.

What most of us fail to see is that, our lives are based on daily activies and not how many days it takes for the earth to travel around the sun. What we achieve at the end of each year is a culmination of daily activities of deliberate actions towards a specific goal or target.

The thing young people, I mean everyone, should note seriously is that, the ‘New Year’ means nothing if you are in love with your comfort zone. The ‘New Year’ will only make sense when your daily actions are well defined and deliberately followed.

Lynda Randle made a song and said ‘One day at a time, sweet Jesus.That’s all I’m asking of You
Just give me the strength to do everyday, What I have to do.Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus,
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, Show me the way, One day at a time’.

This year, when you wake up everyday, consciously identify the people who want the best for you. Not the people who want you around them for the joy of being around you but have no plans for you.

Take everything seriously this year. Be mindful of committing yourself to people who do not know what they want. Lest they waste their time in your time. This will be the greatest disservice to yourself and to your loved ones.

Happy New Day, Everyday!