Where will you be? Many of us will find ourselves at clubs, parties, and bars, drunk and loaded, shooting fireworks and guns in the air. Some of us will be on the couch alone, eating that last half-gallon box of ice cream all by ourselves.

Unfortunately, these are the most common forms of “celebration” in bringing the New Year in. One positive thing to come out of this holiday, though, is that it is usually the time when most people think about the future.

While some of us are driven and planning our tomorrows, others of us are just trying to make it through the day. However, this is one day of the year when almost everyone feels inspired.

So, what goes wrong? Where does the fire go after the first of every year? Why is it that we spend just one day of the year stuffing ourselves with black-eyed peas for good luck and compiling lists of resolutions that we’ll never look at again?

On this one day, everyone wants to stop smoking, lose weight, and be a better person who values what is important and contributes productively to society. Why can’t we be this stimulated every day?

Everyone wants to start tomorrow. We tell our children, “I’m too busy; I’ll spend time with you tomorrow.” Selfishly and inconsiderately, we tell our partners, “I’ll consider your feelings tomorrow.”

When we behave recklessly and put ourselves in dangerous predicaments, we’re telling ourselves, “I can put off my health and safety until tomorrow.” In a sense, we're really saying, “I’m not (and/or you're not) important enough for today.”

Why not let that drive and ambition that we overwhelm ourselves with at the start of every New Year spill over every day? This New Year’s Day, spend time with those you love, doing things that are safe and of which you are proud.

Isn’t it fun anymore to get together? Eat, drink, and be merry, play board games and pull practical stunts, talk and laugh, and top it all off with the countdown:

... 5... 4... 3... 2... You blink, and your eyes peel open almost as if in slow motion, abruptly, just like magic... it’s the beginning of a brand new year... 1... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tell us what you think. Write Spectrum at editor@mcckc.edu.

Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College