By Abe Villarreal
It's the time of the year to say thank you to something that is leaving and thank you to something that may be coming. Thank you for what we experienced, even if what we experienced at the time didn't feel like something for which to give thanks.
Thank you that we made it this far. It may be only another year, but it's another year, and some of the people we know didn't make it to today. Thank you that the new year is giving us a chance to say that we are starting a new year.
Thank you for new beginnings. They can happen at any time, but January feels like a good time to remind ourselves that we can start again. What we wanted to do last year, but didn't, we can do this year. At least, we hope we can.
Saying "Happy New Year" comes with a certain feeling. A sense of relief and excitement. Of hopes and of dreams. Of desires to get something done. When we say "Happy New Year" we are saying it for ourselves as much as we are for the person who is hearing it.
In old, black-and-white movies, people celebrated the new year, mostly like we do today. Get togethers and parties. Staying up late. Hanging on to watch the ball fall. Waiting until the clock strikes midnight. We all want to be there, together, when the new year begins. It means something.
When we celebrate that night together, we bring in a new year together. Then, for the rest of the year, life gets busy and complicated. We go our separate ways. We forget that feeling of anticipation and hopefulness. Life is busy and complicated.
A year later, we are ready for the celebration all over again. We know we didn't accomplish all that we wished for, that New Year's Eve one year ago. We saw triumphs. We overcame a few things, too.
Then, at midnight, that familiar tune will be playing in the background – Old Lang Syne. The melody is memorized but for many of us, not the words. Old Lang Syne, or for old times' sake, we remember old acquaintances and we drink a cup of kindness.
Like some of you, I felt this year was one of accomplishments but also missed opportunities. I could have done this, and I could have done that. I should have gone there, and I should have said yes. Maybe I made the right choice. Maybe I didn't. This kind of thinking could bury a person.
At the end of the day, or the year, all those chances I had will be there all over again. If they aren't, maybe they were meant for someone else. I'm moving forward.
A new year is here.
Abe Villarreal writes about the traditions, people, and culture of America. He can be reached at
