Renew Year

In retail, they call it “a soft opening.”

New restaurants usually debut with a grand opening, as they announce their presence with all kinds of fanfare and hoopla.

On the other hand, a soft opening involves working with a limited number of customers, so the owners have a chance to try out their menu on real people.

I’ve taking that second approach for the New Year.

Rather than waiting for the ball to come down in Times Square at midnight, I’ve been implementing—or trying to—some of my resolutions ahead of all the noise and confetti.

I like this plan, but inner saboteur, as usual, is getting in the way of things.

This morning I woke up with a bad case of the New Year’s heebie-jeebies, where I’m convinced that I’m not changing fast enough, and I go into emotional vapor lock.

This usually starts in the first week of the year, but I guess my shadow self doesn’t feel like waiting.

So, I’ve decided I’m going to ease into 2024. I’ll work on the stuff that needs fixing, but I’m not going to demand they happen all at once.

Now that I’m officially a senior citizen, it does feel a bit foolish to vow that I will totally change and overhaul my life as soon as we cross over into January 1.

But I’m not giving up. There are still many areas in my life that need improvement and New Year’s Day is as good a jumping off point as any.

I already know what I have to do—emotionally, professionally and spiritually. I’ve made most of these vows in prior years with, oh, I don’t know…somewhat limited success?

I’m renewing my earlier promises, rather inventing new ones. It’s like taking my car into the shop for an overhaul.

Hand to Hand

In an effort to keep on the right path, I’ve taken to using my less-dominant hand—the left one—more often for such tasks as brushing my teeth, cutting up my food, pouring drinks and using the remote.

I read somewhere that this kind of switch-hitting is good for your brain. This sounded pretty cool, but apparently that’s just chatter with no scientific evidence to back it up.

No matter. I like the idea of strengthening my weaker hand and this activity serves as physical reminder that my mind is under new management.

If nothing else, this practice makes me focus on the task at hand, instead of bouncing my attention all over the place like a ping-pong ball.

As far as a theme for the new year, I’m reaching back to my old shrink Henry, who would reach even further back during our sessions and quote Hillel the Elder.

“If I am not for myself, who is for me? And being for my own self, what am I? And if not now, when?”

That last question is the big one.

It has the urgency I need to make change happen, but without the insanity that I heap upon myself at every opportunity—which only guarantees failure.

God knows how many times Henry dropped this line on me, but only now do I understand it’s importance.

I was most likely subconsciously resisting Henry’s advice so I could stay in my precious comfort zone of despair. I’ve had a similar experience with my father’s words of wisdom, which I am only beginning to accept now.

When will I finish my book, clean up my home, shoot my short film, get more friends and finally free myself of past injuries, insults and setbacks?

I can’t give you am exact date, but I will raise my left hand and swear that I am going to really work on these projects and attitudes like I’ve never worked on them before.

And then I’ll be ready for my grand opening.