MikeLigalig.com

Old habits on New Year’s Day
Published: December 31, 2006 by The Bohol Standard

Today is the last day of the year. Tomorrow, it is not just a brand new day but a brand new year at that. This notwithstanding, we cannot stop ourselves from asking whether the old is really going to disappear forever and whether the new is not more of the old.

The first thing that comes to mind to many people are the fireworks that not only excite and entertain but also injure or even kill. Every year, government officials particularly health workers warn about the dangers of fireworks and explosives. Every year, the problem rears its ugly head just the same.

It is true that the numbers have gone down. The earnest effort of government and media to play up the horrors of fireworks and guns has made a mark on many parents and their children. The sight of the wounded and their cries of anguish and pain works effectively to discourage many who were entertaining thoughts about it.

Of course, one reason for the drop is the economic crisis. People would rather spend for food and other necessities than to buy fireworks and pyrotechnics. When people are hard up, they are forced to make the right choices.

More than the dangers of fireworks and explosives however is the more subtle but more prevalent practice of indulgence. Due to the mistaken belief that the events of the first day of the year will determine how the rest will take form, people go to great lengths to splurge on themselves.

To the delight of traders and businessmen, people buy fruits, food and other good luck charms in excess. With people in the mood to celebrate, wine and alcohol are also drink in excess by those who confuse drunkenness for enjoyment.

After the smoke of the new year celebration disappears, you can hear people complaining about how much they spent for the occasion and worrying about how they will be able to pay for all the debts they resorted to for the celebration.

Old habits die hard. While people know these things by heart, they continue to go through the same ritual every year. Every year they also go through the same headaches and anxieties.

Instead of trying to start the year right, it is starting the year wrong. Instead of making the right moves at the start, the old habits refuse to die. Instead of improving, people actually do not grow except the numbers on their years.

People do not need to wait for the new year to do away with bad habits and improve their lives. It is not really a question of timing but of sincerity in improving lives by trading the bad and the negative for the good and the positive.

Happy New Year!

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