I don't know if it is just seeing the 1/1 of the new date that makes me feel like I have a clean slate when in reality, my life is no different now than it was last week. Whatever the reason, I love the feeling of looking back at the past year to see how far I've come and to look forward to accomplishing things in the new year.
I am happy to say goodbye to 2008, but I'm not sure why. Sure, it wasn't all rainbows and puppy dogs, but it wasn't all that bad either. But, for some reason, more than most years, I just want to shake it off and put it behind me. I think the problem is that I just seemed really out of sorts this year. When I was single and living in my one little room, I was a super organized person and I've been wanting for years to get back to that. I think I was just harder on myself this year for not getting there because it was easier to make excuses the other years when I was moving, getting married, sick with my pregnancy, had a new baby, etc. I think last year I just felt so overwhelmed with how behind I am, that I just avoided it all together.
But, here's to 2009. I have successfully written the correct year on the 2 checks that I wrote this week. So far, so good. I have of course some very ambitious resolutions for this year. Most of which are the same as last year, and the year before, and the year before that. I have no delusions that I will keep all of these resolutions, but at least I have a whole new year to try.
So, good luck with your fresh start, and if you haven't started yet, there are still a couple of weeks before the Chinese New Year.