I love Christmas. Yes it’s always hatefully cold and rainy. It gets dark by 4 o’clock and you end up spending a fortune. But it’s also inherently cosy. There’s something about the glow of Christmas lights from people’s windows and the fire flickering in the living room that makes me feel all warm inside.
I can never understand these people who say they hate Christmas and can’t wait for it to be over. How can you hate Christmas? It’s the one time of year we’re supposed to be more cheery. It’s about love and family and good food. It’s about toasting cold toes by the fire and having time off work. It’s about presents and being kind, baking cookies and listening to carols. It’s about watching Home Alone for the millionth time and enjoying it just the same as the first time you saw it. It’s about dressing up and going out and seeing people you haven’t seen in a while, socialising and having a good time.
I come from a big hearty family and Christmas is a very family orientated affair round the Hollybeanz household. Every Christmas night, when the dinner is over and mostly digested, the whole clan (aunts, uncles, cousins, mums, dads, brothers, sisters, dogs and pretty much anyone else who wants a bit of craic) comes together for a party. Cocktails are doled out and photos are taken. The fire burns in the corner and we all flit around the house, chatting and just enjoying each others company. It’s a tradition that I can’t imagine Christmas without. I love it.
So it comes as a surprise to many then, to discover that I cannot abide New Years’. For many, New Years Eve marks a pivotal event on the festive calendar. Well maybe, but to me, New Years Eve marks the sad end of Christmas. You know that in the coming days, with no more gatherings on the horizon, family and friends that have come from far away will be on their way again, everyone will return to work, the decorations will come down and we’re left with a cold winter month and empty wallets.
Worse still, it’s resolution time. FLIP!!! Now, in general, I’m a very optimistic person. I like a challenge and I believe that anyone can make a decision to change and follow it through. But I don’t like being pressured into things and that’s what New Years does. It’s a new year and that mean’s you have to have a fresh start and make some changes. Everyone else is doing it and they all want to know what your plan is. I just don’t see why one can’t decide to eat healthier or quit smoking in August. Matter fact, I quit smoking last September and took up running in October.
A New Years Resolution has an aroma of laziness about. It’s nothing more than procrastination or an excuse to completely overindulge at Christmas because, “come January. I’m on a health kick!”
And then January comes and suddenly everyone’s going to the gym and Martine McCutcheon is on the telly telling us how brilliant Activia is for your tummy and leaflets for zumba classes are shoved through the letterbox by some dude who clearly has never taken a zumba class in his life. In January everyone is fierce healthy and motivated and optimistic…. For like three weeks. And then you realise that actually, you’re really feckin’ hungry and a feed of Micky D’s wouldn’t go amiss. Next thing you know you’re on the phone to the Chinese ordering Sezuan Chicken with fried rice and chicken balls and a portion of chips and vowing to get back on the diet wagon tomorrow. But it never really happens. That first fall three weeks in is the beginning of a diet – overeat – self-loathe cycle that will probably last until next January, crush your self-esteem and waste a lot precious time that, in the New Year, you resolved to spend with family.
Point is, the pressure of New Years sets us up to fail. I believe that to succeed at something we have to really want and be ready to do it. But in January, ready or not, we’re pushed into resolutions. It’s all too sudden and forced.
I mean, if you want to lose weight, if you want to quit smoking, if you want to take control of your finances, see more of your friends, whatever your story may be, good for you. I commend you. I wish you success and nuffin’ less. But do me a favour, don’t rush it. Do it in your own time. Just because the masses believe New Years is the right time to alter ones life doesn’t make it so. I feel that if you force it, it won’t work out.
Change is meant to be for life, not just for Christmas.
sureitsallabitofcraic 