res ipsa's One Simple Rule for a Good New Year's Eve

(I'm re-posting this from last New Year's Eve because I think it clearly demonstrates my genius.)

The Rule: No Reflecting.

Zero.

Not even for a moment.

More than ten eleven years ago, I was in a shrink's office on the afternoon of New Year's Eve and the phone was ringing off the hook. It rang so often and so seemingly loudly and at such long intervals that it distracted us from the work of our session (which was probably to talk me off the ledge regarding some guy I did not like and who did not like me, but who inexplicably seemed like Mister Right at the time). The shrink said, "What is going on?" and I said, without missing a beat, "Too much reflection".

On New Year's Eve, you look in only one direction: forward.

Tomorrow, in the clear light of The Day After, you can reflect. And if you're too exhausted or hungover, put reflection off until Sunday, or, even better, Monday.

In the meantime, look forward.

Happy New Year, Hegemaniacs.

P.S. No resolutions, either. You have Goals: clear, concrete goals. You're not going to "Exercise more", you're going to "Walk one mile a day in January and increase the distance by a half-mile in each succeeding month." But formulating goals might involve reflecting on what you have or failed to accomplish this year, so table those until tomorrow, too.