I have a confession to make.

I kinda sorta a little bit hate New Year’s. I don’t hate THE New Year, I just don’t always appreciate all that comes with it. All the reflection over the past year. The regrets. The coulda/shoulda/wouldas. The assertion that nothing that happened last year matters, and THIS year, 2014, is going to be better, the best.

All because we flip a calendar.

Don’t get me wrong. I think reflection is fabulous. In fact, I probably overindulge in it. Reflections over the dessert I made for the party. Did people like it? Reflections over the conversation I had with a supervisor. Did I sound professional? Reflections over the cute guy sitting across the coffee shop. Did he wink at me? Should I go over there? What will we name our kids?

So maybe I overthink things…

But shouldn’t we be reflecting all year? Shouldn’t we regularly be looking for ways to improve ourselves, if there are things we wish were different? Shouldn’t we stop asking rhetorical questions and start acting on them already?

One of the commentators (is that a word?) on one of the New Year’s Eve specials last night made a comment about how now that 2013 is over, we can forget about it, start over, make a clean slate as if none of it ever happened. I suppose that’s a great idea in theory if you had a rough year. But it is practical? (Sorry, another rhetorical question.)

For me, 2013 was just another year. There were some very good things that happened, and some less than stellar things. But everything that happened during 2013 shaped who I am now. I learned so much about writing and the publishing world, and, honestly, about myself. Why would I want to let that all go just to “start fresh?” The worst things in life often teach us the most.

I do have hopes and dreams and goals for the new year. But they aren’t contingent upon that magical flip from December 31 to January 1. They are the same goals I had a week ago. The same hopes and dreams I’ve had for much longer than that.

I’m not trying to rain on anyone’s parade. (Speaking of which, I missed the parade this morning. My bed needed me.) If you love New Year’s and everything that goes with it, the top 10 lists, the resolutions, the confetti and glitter and pomp, then I’m glad for you. If this is where your starting point needs to be, then more power to you, and I hope it goes well for you. As for me, just call me the Scrooge of the New Year. Again, the “holiday,” not the actual year.

In fact, I plan on being quite cheerful this year. Let’s call that my resolution. If I believed in doing that sort of thing. 😉

Happy New Year, folks.