I hate New Year's Eve. I have for as long as I can remember. This decade has been littered with some pretty abysmal New Year's Eves, with one exception, ringing in 2008 was outstanding. I often wonder why that year out of all the years was so amazing. Sure, I was surrounded by great friends, listening to great music but most New Year's are made up of similar components. In fact, I can't recall any where I have not been with friends. Some have been worse than others, 2006 comes to mind, but most have been consistently disappointing.
I often think about why this is and have come up with only one conclusion: expectations. New Year's Eve, like your birthday, is supposed to be a good time. You are excepted to have fun. You are required to have a good time. You will take ridiculous picture that you will later post on Facebook as proof of said good time. You will kiss your significant other/friend/random stranger on midnight and later stumble to bed thinking "this year is going to be so amazing because I just had the greatest night of my life". This is never really how it goes. With such expectations you will almost certainly always be let down.
So what was 2008's secret? No expectations. Honestly, I had none. There was no boy I was secretly hoping to kiss at midnight, there was no preconceived notion of how the night would go. It was just me, good friends, Roger Clyne and lots of dancing. I had a smile on my face and a full heart. I was hopeful.
This year's solution then? No expectations. Come what may. I will not anticipate a good time because that is what the laws of social norm dictate. I will revolutionize my own thinking.
Well, let's be honest. It was because I was there.
ReplyDeleteOn a similar note: I always expect new years to be like the ones in When Harry Met Sally; celebrations at extravagant parties dressed to the nines... This image was instilled further as a kid b/c my parents, autns/uncles, etc. were always going to fancy parties and leaving us kids with friends or at home.
Anyway, It's clearly nothing like that unless you make it happen. One of these new years I'm going to throw/attend a mascarade ball new years - Labyrinth style. That's a resolution for you!