Nows and Forevers

I was on a Zoom conference call this afternoon where one of the speakers wished everyone a happy new year.

“If we’re still OK to say that on the 26th,” she said.

It made me wonder. Because I don’t know.

I wished people a happy new year much earlier at the end of 2022 than I normally would. I started saying it just before Thanksgiving to people I wouldn’t see or talk to for more than a month. It kind of just popped out of my mouth. But then it stuck.

I didn’t wish anyone a happy new year at all in 2021 or 2022. It didn’t feel right, with all the people dying from Covid-19 and the general tone of the world. I would say it back if someone asked me. But I have to say that at the end of 2020 especially and even the end of 2021, I just felt grateful to be alive. It could have gone a different way.

Frankly, 2022 wasn’t that great a year either, at least personally. I felt the weight of a passing, which then gave way to a flood of emotions. But that’s neither here nor there. I still felt it was important to say “happy new year” for 2023.

And, like the woman on the conference call, I’m still happy to do it, 26 days in. It’s still a new year to me.