About That First Monday in January: You Ready?

Why it’s more meaningful to me than the first day in January.

If you didn’t jumpstart your January three days ago, you get a second chance. That comes as soon as — tomorrow, January 4.

Make that: Monday, January 4, 2021.

Naturally, the new year brings about dozens of texts, graphics, emojis and earnest wishes for “Happy New Year!”.

But, I am still trying to get my head around those words, “Happy New Year!”. It’s this way for me, always. Because, from one year to the next, I can’t shake this grinchy feeling of — “That’s all you have for me, today?”

Sounds callous, I know. Mostly these greetings of early January are spoken so sincerely. It’s the annual equivalent of the daily, “How are you?”

Except, my mind privately responds, “Do you really want to know, or are you just saying that?”

Can I call these Happy-New-Year words — dare I call them — “empty words”? Words spoken because that’s what you say on January 1, automatically?

Notably, the Happy-New-Year phrase takes on extra emphasis in 2021, because we’ve all just emerged from a jarring 2020. I can happily agree with this point.