Member-only story
What Time Is It?
Time is relative. This morning at 8 am, the broadcast news commentator shared that Australia was beginning to celebrate the new year — 2024–16 hours ahead of our midnight striking on the east coast in the United States.
I’ve been spending a few hours this morning pondering this. Time is relative. On social media the “memories” feature is one of the first I check out each morning. I enjoy revisiting the events of “this day” a year ago. and all the years before.
As happens annually, people start discussing resolutions, anticipated changes to make in their lives, a word of the year/theme, me included! And I wonder why we wait until a new year to determine we need to, and commit to, make changes. Why is this not an on-going process? Why do we not resolve to evaluate and re-evaluate that state of our actions, thoughts, lives at the start of each week or month?
Granted, hindsight is easier from a “big picture” perspective and vision from broader view is clearer. But I wonder if this annual tradition is recognized as “the way” and “the time” to assess our lives because it’s uncomfortable to do it on an on-going basis. It’s time-consuming, too, to set aside time on a regular, more short-term basis. Patterns aren’t usually recognized as such, until we see, well, a pattern! And we can’t always see them because they become a habit, which starts to feel normal.
This practice of daily/continuing evaluation also can make us appear out of step and may seem ‘weird’ to others. It seems odd to declare — or not, but even decide privately — that we recognize an undesirable pattern in our lives and decide to take action to change it immediately. It requires self-awareness!
Does the “new year’s resolution” become an excuse to not take stock today? Do we find ourselves pushing back any needed or desired changed actions or behaviors until “the new year” vs taking immediate steps? This is rhetorical question, really, as it applies to me — and my life!
I’ve selected a word of the year. I’ve figured how I intend to apply it daily to my plans and goals. I’ve also, though, committed to take daily stock of the previous day. I commit to being accountable for daily progress toward becoming the best version of the person God created me to be.
It won’t be easy! It certainly won’t be fun! But it will be worth it! Check back often as I’ll be sharing updates throughout the year here and on social media if you care to follow along, and especially if you’d like to join me!
Happy New Year!
You can find me at linktr.ee/themarymoss
