On New Year's Eve

I’ll be blunt and daring and express my dissatisfaction at how most people choose to spend New Year’s Eve. You may disagree, but I have my own – not so much shared - views on this one. I just can’t seem to understand the logic behind the competition as to where and how New Year’s Eve is spent. Why is it a “must” to have an extravagant arrangement for that specific night?

A friend of mine suggested it is the one night everybody needs to stay up late, dance, and have fun (referring to going crazy and drinking lots of alcohol); it would be ideal to hop from one place to another until it is breakfast time again. The longer the stay out, the more indicative it is of how well the night went by. To me, that was YIKESSSSSS!!! I’m not a night person; and staying up late is practically torture. Discussing the same issue with another friend, I found an argument strikingly different; albeit, much deeper. The latter noted that she doesn’t understand why all the festivity, the fireworks, and the hassle. We lost one year; what is there to be happy about?

I wouldn’t want to compete about the outing, nor depress about a losing a year. It is a special night; a turning point, but do we really have to anticipate for a new year this way or that? To me, the ideal is to celebrate in a very different way. Give it the worth it deserves. I would much rather sit quietly in a fine candle-lit homey environment, good music in the background, and play a unique game. In my mind’s eye, I would like to scan the whole past year with all its appealing and dire events; re-live the nice important memories, learn the lessons from the not so fortunate ones, and then run a wild movie in my head about my aspirations for the coming year. No need to have a parade over food preparations, or a hassle about dressing up. I feel a need to reflect on the true meaning of this occasion; why is that we divert our attention? I would love to share my activity with others (sharing is caring), but would speculate that most would find it a lame game. Who would settle for such a surreal New Year’s Eve?

To fit in, I therefore spare this mind game to an alternate night. For now, and at least for the past couple of years, I have succeeded in limiting the festive celebration to spending the night with those closest to my heart, in a home setting, and to casual means of entertainment. Definitely would not want it a wild night in clubs; definitely would not lament the loss of a year in my life. Wonder if I would succeed in bringing others to play the game if I attempt to next year. I’ll be giving it a shot; or will I remain alone on this? What do you think? :)