New Year’s resolutions, if you are anything like me, you hate to make them but just can’t seem to help yourself! The years of “go to the gym more'' are behind me. Nowadays, I pride myself on creative and attainable resolutions. After listening to our recent podcast on Sticky Ham Balls, I knew the perfect resolution for 2023….to not say “1981” repetitively in a podcast! I left no doubt as to what year the recipe originated as I repeated it ad nauseam. I promise to strive to do better in the New Year!
Much like resolutions from the past, my goals on how to spend the New Year have shifted along with my age.
I remember the days when all I wanted was to be a part of the fun I was so sure my parents were having as they stayed up until midnight to watch the ball (or apple) drop in New York. While I don’t actually remember the first year that gift was bestowed upon me, I have seen the manic joy occur in both Kristen’s child and in mine. Doing whatever it takes to stay up that late while at the same time going on and on about how you aren’t tired and this is easy and you will stay up even after the ball has dropped. All the while, you, as the parent, are watching the bags grow under your child's eyes as their energy slowly wanes. This evening of excitement ends with the drop of the ball, grownups wishing you a Happy New Year and then packing things up just as quickly as possible so they can get to bed! I do have vague memories of general disappointment that it looked WAY more exciting on TV than it was in reality.
Link to Big Apple Photo
I would say this general feeling of mild chagrin carried with me for the next 15 years or so. I attended New Year’s parties of all kinds, large and small, quiet and raucous, near and far, and by and large I found them to be no more exciting than any other party. Despite adding some fancy clothes and champagne and some super cool “2000” glasses when we all survived the looming threat of Y2K, it wasn’t a night that warranted fireworks.
Link to 2020 Photo
Then one year it all changed. I went to a pre-party event where we wrote down what we wanted to release from the past year in preparation for the new one. It was written on flash paper (it burns quickly with no smoke) and after the paper was full I had the chance to burn the paper and in a flash, it was gone. It was AMAZING! I went back year after year and my New Year celebrations became so much more fun! All of a sudden, I saw the fireworks in my parties! An evening of celebration could be followed by a fantastic New Year’s resolution….to swap out my betamax for a VCR…to grow out my “Rachel” haircut…to perfect my audition video for “Survivor”...or when creativity waned I would just go with the old standby to get to the gym more.
Link to Rachel hair Photo
Whether they have always been fantastic or you too have gone through a series of ups and downs, I hope this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration is fireworks worthy and maybe even followed by a completely solid and achievable resolution. Might I suggest, not to miss an episode of “Mom’s Wooden Spoon” as a worthy choice!
Link to Fireworks Photo