What does “Happy New Year!” mean to most people?  Credit card bills looming, still at the job you hate, swamped with organizational issues at home and work, or simply just not sure where it is you are and where it is you are going. 

January seems to be the great equalizer in making you take stock of your life.  Sometimes you even find that you made the same resolutions that you made last year…oops!  And while you hope that you can do some of the things you have been holding off for so long, you are not exactly sure that it will work out.  I mean, there are other people in your life that you have a responsibility to.  It’s not as if you can just take off willy-nilly and do the things that make you happy.  There is a hierarchy of “wants” in this world and yours fall at the bottom of the totem pole.

And so it will go until January, and its urgency to change, turns into February.  Then pretty soon the leaves are turning green and the flowers are bursting around you and you did it….you survived the beginning of a new year. 

Do you ever wonder who thought up the sadistic idea of making resolutions on New Years?  First observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago it began with the first New Moon after the Vernal (Spring) Equinox.  Lasting 11 days with each day having its own celebration it is clear that the Babylonians really knew how to party!   

However, the idea of celebrating the New Year began, it has lasted for eons of time.  You can just imagine how many centuries through time people have been agonizing over not only their resolutions, but….will they have a date for the big New Year’s Bash.

That being said, the New Year is here and 2008 needs to be great.  How do you do that?  How do you make a year great?  I have an idea, instead of killing yourself to abide by the resolution you made that was probably thought up after too many glasses of champagne ….why not decide that instead of living by resolutions, you are going to live by the title given to the new year, “Happy”. 

We say it so many times on New Year ’s Eve and after, that it loses its meaning.  “Happy” that’s an idea isn’t it.  Instead of trying to shed the 20 pounds you believe you need to lose, spending more time reading, doing more charity work, or simply saving more money, what if you made a simple and doable goal of being “Happy.”

Of course, everyone’s idea of being “Happy” is different.  But what is universal is the bliss and truth that occurs in your life when you strive to be “Happy”.  Everything shines brighter, looks newer, smells nicer.  When you wake up every morning to count your blessings, see the beauty of the day, or just smile at yourself in the mirror you have done what you resolved to do.  It’s that simple and a far more rewarding resolution, don’t you think?

So for 2008 instead of resolving to be resolute in your resolutions, why not simply live the title that January 1st was given, “Happy New Year”!  That is it, simple and straightforward.  Live a “Happy New Year”.  And when 2009 rolls around you won’t have to agonize over what you will pick for the new year…you’ll already know.  Your resolution is simply “Happy New Year” and your celebration will last for 364 days.  That’ll show those Babylonians!