50 First Days

Remember when you were a little kid, how you would get so excited about Christmas? For weeks you would dream about that glorious day. You imagined the lights and the presents and the food and SANTA and every other glorious thing about that day and the flutter of excitement in your belly would grow and grow until you just didn’t think you could stand it anymore.

Well nowadays I don’t feel that level of excitement for Christmas. It’s a wonderful day and I really love the family time and all of the other stuff mentioned above, but that flicker of excitement just isn’t there anymore… for Christmas.

Nowadays I get that excitement and anticipation about New Years Day. Now please don’t imagine that I am one to get all dressed up and head out to a fancy party on New Years Eve, dance and drink champagne etc., like the ending of When Harry Met Sally. As a matter of fact I don’t remember the last time we went out to a party for New Years. This year we managed to hit pause on A Christmas Story in time to do the countdown, had a sip of champagne and a kiss, then went back to the movie.

No, it’s not the New Years Eve thing that gets me all atwitter. It is simply the New-ness of it all. It is that fresh page, fresh start, NEW chance that I love. For weeks I think about what will be my New Years intentions, and I ponder what I have been grateful for in the previous year. On New Years Day, a new chapter starts. Heck sometimes a whole new book begins and the possibilities are endless. The best part is that I have finally realized that I get to write the stories in that fresh and shiny new book. It’s like getting the keys to the magic kingdom!

Is it any wonder why I get so excited?

This year I have decided that one of the best ways that I can live in this new and shiny year is to try to treat each day as if it is the first day, all clean and sparkling with new possibilities. I have had 50 first days. This year I hope to add 365 to that number. 2014, let the magic begin!