“Inaction is cowardice… I do not see how any man can afford,
for the sake of his nerves and his nap, to spare any action in which he can
partake.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
And what a glorious New Years it was. As I stood with my
friends, in the crowded streets of NYC, and as close to Times Square as humanly
possible, I took it all in. The pretty lights and people, the fireworks, the excitement
and anticipation for the new year. It was electric. The street corners were
littered with law enforcement officers but to no avail. A potent odor of alcohol
and marijuana smoke hung in the air and in an atmosphere not uncommon to NYC,
the roads became lawless and licentious. Party hats in tow, hundreds of
thousands of people flocked to the streets to celebrate the completion of yet
another prosperous year and start of a new cycle.
Then, in the midst of it all, it struck me. Why all the
hype? I hope to not sound like a buzz-kill but New Years is simply symbolic. We
may flip the calendar to a new page but many of us still have tremendous
responsibilities. We wake up and eat and work and study. There are planes to
catch and bills to pay and diapers to change and papers to write. For many of
us, our daily lives and their routines remained unaltered.
So what changes? Enter: The New Year’s resolution.
Resolutions for changes in our lives can be implemented and part
of what makes New Years so grand is our ability to view the day as a new
beginning; a fresh start and springboard into a better lifestyle.
Many people may have personal resolutions but I believe that
that there is one thing that we can all universally strive for as a whole.
Something that we cannot achieve ALONE, nor with our own determination and
drive.
UNITY. To be united – not divided. To participate and not be
alone. To find strength in numbers and grow as a group. To be a team player.
Joining a commUNITY, of any type, is an excellent opportUNITY
to GET INVOLVED. Whether socializing with friends and family, joinng a team or
club, brainstorming with co-workers, study partners, or boardmembers, active
participation is the outlet that can bring out the best of our capabilities and
actualize our talents. It gives us an opportUNITY to express our interests and
get our voices heard. It puts us on the map – so to speak – and keeps us on our
toes. It keeps us active, alert, and responsible while enabling us to achieve
the human connection that we naturally strive for.
I believe there is a common misconception that by joining a
commUNITY, unit, or board we compromise our individuality.
In fact, it promotes our individuality. We can contribute our
fresh output and creativity - through thought, speech, and deed – that directly
defines the many facets of and intricate aspects of our personalities.
Ironically, what truly impedes the expression of our individuality
is hiding it from the world. Much like what would happen if one were to plant a
tree in a flower pot – if we isolate – we limit ourselves and our worth to the confines
of our caves.
It is so much easier to sleep in, or keep quiet, or not move
but it is selfish acts like keeping our abilities locked away in our comfort
zones that prevent us from thriving on both personal and communal levels.
Fear,
an inescapable illusion, is bred by ignorance and laziness and is many times
self-imposed. Any attempt at more extroverted activity will naturally cause
more opportunities to arise and greatly enhance the quality and quantity of our lives.
The secret of living is not only giving, but sacrificing the self and cremating
the comfort found in laziness and lethargy. We thrive through breaking the barriers
that bind us to our beds. The more we disassociate ourselves from the law of
gravity – which prevents us from raising to new heights – the merrier our lives
become.
Sometimes, you just need an excuse to turn over a new leaf. That
excuse can be this New Year but more importantly everyday you wake up in the
morning. In reality, we can make a resolution everyday. Everyday is a new shot;
another New Years so to speak. HAPPY NEW YEAR? NO. HAPPY NEW DAY!!
It’s a new year
A new month
A new week
A new day
A new hour
A new minute
A new second
A new moment
A new life
So get out of bed and get involved.
