Exit 2014, Enter 2015

The year comes to an end. It is an undeniable fact that there is some sort of euphoria around with regard to the New year’s day. To me, it raises the question as to why people celebrate the New Year’s Day. Much as I cannot say I grew up in the village, I can comfortably say I spent a big chunk of my time there and in my home village every new Year’s day means a good afternoon’s dance of manganje at some place popularly known as kudambo. It is celebration time, and
I have nothing against that. We just have to celebrate; I mean, it is the festive season. On the other hand, I feel like there has to be more to this than just celebrating.

Some might ask why entering a new year should be a bit more of a big deal than just the gin and pork we take. In chapter 90 and verse 12 of the book of Psalms the author prayed to the LORD that He should teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. We therefore need to move from the thinking that years are just numbers and need to think of them as markers; markers to the ends of eras and the beginning of brand new ones.

This reality brings us to the fact that we need to evaluate the year 2014 and of course make plans for the year 2015. The sad reality we have is that most of us do not sit down to draft what we are looking for in a year so evaluating the year becomes a bit less meaningful, but that can change starting with the next year.

But is it necessary to be thinking about goals and plans for the next year as a whole? Someone might ask. Again we go back to the Bible which clearly says on Proverbs 29:18 that where there is no vision, people perish. The word of God is clear there so if you cannot write a plan for the year, you at least need to have a vision of what you want to achieve in the year and to write it down so that you can find something as a standard for evaluating the year when you get to the end of it. Main point is that you need to have a direction as you are going into the new year, setting goals in your academics, career, finances, marriage and relationships and above that your spirituality. Think about where you are and where you want to take yourself and above that where you want to be when 2015 ends; and then figure out ways of getting there.

When we start a New Year there is whole lot of talk about New Year’s resolutions and things in those lines. They are not a bad idea, but in view of what I have just said to do with vision, these things have to be as realistic as possible. We have to understand that problems will not just disappear just because the 4 on the number of the year has been replaced by a 5. I also don’t think they would change because of some prophecy. Conditions change when people work to change them and you are responsible for your own life, so right from the start think about your own life and what you can do to improve it in the coming year. In other words, don’t make empty resolutions but have a vision and to that vision add a plan of how you will bring your vision to realization but most importantly add ACTION to your plan because without it the plan becomes useless.

I read one Facebook post which reminded people to be SMART when setting their goals for 2015; meaning that the goals have to be Specific, Manageable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound. No additions to that.

Lastly, as I wish you all God’s best in the New Year, I would like to echo what every reasonable being who likes to play dad on everyone has been saying.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY.