New Year, New Me Bullshit 2024 Redux Edition
We hear the same shit every year. New Year, New Me. I’m going to change. A new person.
Sorry dog. No, you’re not, and you’re not.
Our chances of changing ourselves are no different on January 1st than July 2nd (or July 1st for a leap year). The beginning of a new cycle around our star has no bearing on the nature of our humanity. Every moment bears the same chances for breaking habits or bettering ourselves.
In fact, one could argue that change happens now – that moment you realize something is wrong or could be better. No waiting for the next day. No waiting for the next month or year. The fact that people say tomorrow, next week, or next year I’m going to bitch-slapping you every hour on the hour, shows they don’t really want to change. They’d rather procrastinate. They’d rather enjoy bitch-slapping you for the rest of the day than stop right now.
So who benefits from all these New Year celebrations? The Market. The economy. Same as those who really benefit from all the other bullshit civic holidays. Candy companies. Card companies. Alcohol/beverage companies. Fireworks companies. Catering/hosting agencies. Gym memberships. Tourism. Just think about how much money is wasted being spent going to the big apple to celebrate. To what end? Ring in another year? It’s just another mother fuckin year, folks. We’ve had many, and if we’re lucky, we’ll have many more. Some won’t be so lucky. For some, this is going to the last one.
According to Our World in Data, 67 million people who rang in 2023 will not be ringing in 2024. It’s not all doom and gloom though. 134 billion births took place during the same period increasing our net population by .84%.
Having said all this, using a new year as an excuse to better yourself? Sure go for it. Using any potential as an opportunity for self betterment is OK in my books. Just realize it has no bearing on whether or not that change is going to take place. If you couldn’t better yourself yesterday, you ain’t gonna better yourself.