As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun, Happy New Year everyone! We’ve all heard it, that “every year goes faster than the last,” or some variation of the same lament. It’s a universal truth that most of us can only really internalize once we have enough years under our belt. It crystalizes with time. Research indicates that new memories themselves are less dense than those from our formative years, and we get more set in routines that further hasten the passage of time. What can we do about it?
I recently wrote about my perspective on “retail therapy” in It’s Tough to Make Predictions. Not long ago, I was going for a swim and walked onto the pool deck and saw a guy wearing a neon green swim cap that read, “It’s Now or Never.” Bold words for a swim cap, but the right words to honor a new year, and symbolic of a new beginning!
I must have needed to see those words that day, or else I probably wouldn’t have noticed. It’s easy to watch time slip by and get complacent when things are going smoothly. The rhythm of each day turns into the repetition of the week, then the season, then the year. This is not a bad thing, in fact, I would consider it to be part of the harmony of life. Honestly, we love the rhythm and the beat!
However, as much as we try, life itself is neither linear nor predictable. It feels contradictory that humans thrive on routine, but regard trailblazers as our heroes in most spaces. I rationalize this incongruity because change is constant. The routines we live must include challenges, new experiences, and also bring in new ideas to preserve growth and prevent stagnation.
Sometimes it’s the big things like a career change or break, starting a business, moving to a new town, starting a new relationship or ending an old one. It can be the proverbial “leap of faith.” Steven Spielberg once said in an interview that your “calling” is a whisper. Being able to hear it, and listen to it is a challenge. That might be a lifelong challenge requiring constant change.
Other times the change can be more modest, like a New Year’s Resolution. Wake up earlier. Hit the gym regularly. Eat less. Eat healthier. Spend less. Save more.
So what did that random guy’s swim cap slogan mean to me? It meant, or means, I should be the person I want to be now, not later. It starts with things like eating healthier, growing more food, and supporting more local businesses. Savoring time with family and friends, and making a positive impact in our communities. What does it mean to you?
For now, here’s to many many good years ahead, met with a “now or never” attitude!