New Year's Tradition

[Fred]

I have a tradition I observe at the beginning of every New Year. It is not an American tradition, but rather it is a personal one. I think about what I want to create more of in my life during the up-coming year and then I think of a word that best summarizes that intention.

Last year’s word was “Family” as I wanted to keep my focus on nurturing my family. The word before that was “WuWei”, which I picked as a strategy to be more in tune with my “natural” state of acting and reacting. So far, the most effective word I ever picked was “Now”. It really helped keep me in the present moment.

For this year, I am thinking about choosing 改善 (かいぜん), which means “constant and incremental improvement”.

If anyone else is interested in thinking up their word for the year, I would love to hear it. I would also be interested in hearing about people’s personal New Year’s traditions.

[SlickWilly440]

I don't believe in New Years or in "time" in general b/c time is a man made invention that only benefits those in power to control the order of how people live their lives.

Therefore I don't have any New Year's traditions b/c self acknowledgment of such a celebrations means that one is under the control of those in power.

Besides those who have the motivation to better improve their lives don't need some made up event called New Years and should have the discipline to carry out those goals.

[Fred]

My invitation was really intended to solicit comments from people who honor some type of New Year’s tradition rather than comments from people who distain such traditions.

However, you are the only person who has responded so far and beggars can’t be choosers. I welcome you with open arms. That said, your comments are like mental flatulence; they are stinky, insubstantial, and they came out of your ass.

Time is not an invention. It is just a measurement of motion. Time management is a useful skill for most employers, but it is sophomoric to suggest that it “only benefits those in power to control the order of how people live their lives”

Choosing to create and/or honor existing traditions does not mean you are under the control of those in power. In fact, anything you consciously choose to do establishes your own power. Anything you do reactively makes you malleable to another’s power.

As for your final comment, of course any time is a good time to carry out a plan of self-improvement. That truism does not negate the value of an annual time of reflection and a reassessment of what one wants out of life.

[japanat]

^ Sounds like SlickWilly thinks he's in the RWPW - sorry - 'Swede'.

My key word would have to be 'support'. Support my daughter in her entrance exams. Support my son as his classes get more difficult in the 2nd year. Support my younger 2 as they try to figure out what they like to do. Support my wife as she tries to keep things running while I'm in class.

Support myself as I try to balance my life and get my fitness under control.

[SlickWilly440]

^
Thanks, that was the response I was looking for.

Okay fine, my word for the year is "Management" because I want to better mange my life, my time, my work, etc

[farstrider]

"Sex" because I want more of it this year.

[SlickWilly440]

"Sex" because I want more of it this year.

So I guess he is implying that he is already getting some from her, but not enough. How greedy of him.

[Kannon]

Some is more than none, which is the position I am in. However, I might go with "Rebirth" as this year has been eye opening in the most painful ways possible.

[blank slate]

I suppose my word should be "Action." I need to get off my lazy butt and seriously start getting in better shape and be in full control of my health. Plus it'll allow me to get nicer clothing.

[Anders]

I don't believe in New Years or in "time" in general b/c time is a man made invention that only benefits those in power to control the order of how people live their lives.


I must have fallen asleep during my history classes- Who invented time?


As for me, my life has experienced a change that will continue to positively affect me for the rest of my life. I am now a father. I am very supportive of my wife and baby, but there is something I would like to do better. I would like to be able to change his diaper at pit crew speeds and be able to go back to sleep in a heartbeat. That would be very nice.

[SlickWilly440]

I must have fallen asleep during my history classes- Who invented time?

Well the animals didn't invent time. They have nothing to gain from keeping track of the duration from one point to another. Therefore man invented time to organize how people keep track of duration.

[Anders]

Wow. I am actually stunned. So if animals don't have any need to keep track of time and timing, how does the lion know it is close enough to be able to catch its prey? How do bears fish for salmon? Better still, how do you know when to post another absurd hypothesis about the (non)existence of time?

[SlickWilly440]

Wow. I am actually stunned. So if animals don't have any need to keep track of time and timing, how does the lion know it is close enough to be able to catch its prey? How do bears fish for salmon? Better still, how do you know when to post another absurd hypothesis about the (non)existence of time?

Animals don't need to know about time to catch fish or hunt prey, they just have to be away of their environment

[farstrider]

How greedy of him.

It's like Az says, run that shit down like a starving Nigerian because you never know when your next meal might be (paraphrase) ;)

[Fred]

Please stick to the original topic.

I think it is very interesting to hear about what people want to focus on. Whether it is family or sex does not really matter.

I think there is a lot of power in focus, so it is important to be specific about what exactly you focus on.

For example, if you put your focus on wanting to have sex, you are likely to increase your experience of wanting to have sex rather than increasing your experience of actually having sex.

Just something to think about.

[Trump]

Well, I believe he means the conventions associated with time: seconds, minutes, days, months, years, etc, are man made. Time itself obviously is not. So his point would be why celebrate a man-defined interval of time?

Personally, I could care less about new years day itself. Don't get me wrong, a good ham and black-eyed pea dinner is awesome! But the day itself means nothing. However, I do love the time of year because I get time off and can see my family.

[TygressVirgo]

"Productive Progress"

I've spent so many past years not moving forward with my life, not being productive and living day to day with little thought. I want to make headway towards the life I want for my son and I. I know I can reach my goals, I just have to work towards it and stop sitting and waiting for it to happen.

Nice Idea Fred, glad you shared it.

- Tygress

[Fred]

Thanks TygressVirgo - I've been doing this for about 15 years. It's been interesting to see what kind of words have worked for me and what have not

[Kannon]

Just out of curiosity, if you're willing to share, do you happen to have a list of words that did and did not work?

[Fred]

I never kept a list, so I do not recall all the words I have tried.

I remember I chose “finances” one year. Unfortunately, I chose to focus on needing to improve my finances, so what I experienced was several occasions where I needed to improve my finances.

The next year I chose “Abundance” and had a very different experience.

There have been years where I picked something I thought I should focus on rather than something that actually mattered to me. Those words did not work out well.

The best word I have chosen so far was “Now”. My intention was to focus my thoughts on what I was doing at the moment rather than letting my mind wander while I did something.

[blank slate]

Well, I put my word "action" to use. I know it's a bit early, but I went ahead and purchased these adjustable weight sets (dumbbells). Damn things cost me nearly $400, so you better believe I'm going to put them to use.