Old Year's Day
I'm taking off the last day of this year on the advice of a dear neighbor who passed away in August of 1996. His name was Jack Welch and he was such a gentle-spoken, smart and wise man. He taught English at Abilene Christian University and whenever I saw him out in the yard, I would make it a point to go and talk with him, because he always had such interesting things to say. Several years previous, he and his wife, had moved from West Virginia down to hot, dry, and mostly treeless West Texas and they were the first neighbors to greet us when our family moved in next door.
In May of 1996, he had talked to me about his plans that summer to go to Russia and teach English using the Bible as a text. He asked me to keep the algae from taking over his pool while he and his wife were away, and to keep the lawn cut. On the night before he was to return from St. Petersburg to the U.S., he decided to walk back to where he was staying but never made it there. He had had a heart attack. He was only in his fifties when he left this world.
At his funeral, copies were available of some of the poems he had written during his life. I still keep them slipped between the pages of a poetry anthology in my office and occasionally pull them out to reread. I can picture him sitting at his desk putting down the words that I, years later, now read. It seems I always come back to this poem (his wife kindly gave permission for me to use it).
Old Years Day
December 31st should be officially named
"Old Year's Day"
And should be designated a world holiday
By the United Nations.
Old Year's Day is a time for reflection
On the past year,
Especially the successes:
--the kind words we did say
--the promises and the vows we kept
--the bills we paid on time
--the jobs we kept
--the votes we cast
--the friends we helped…
(You can write your own poem by finishing the list.)
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And then Old Year's Day
Will be a time of reflection on missed opportunities:
Here's what I'd do if I could live the year again:
--I'd smile more
--I'd talk less
--I'd listen more
--I'd gossip less
--I'd exercise more
(Now, please continue.)
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Old Year's Day is not for resolutions (that comes the following day), and it's not a time for presents or cards or dinners. It's a time for reflection on the past year. A good Old Year's Day will make for strong New Years Resolution.
Jack Welch
Well, I think he was right. For the past few years I have taken off the day and used it to consider the closing year. This coming December 31st I'm going to give it another try. I am not going to use the day to get ready for a New Year's Eve party. I am going to use it to think over how this last year has been spent. I'll reread my daily journals. I will reconsider how I treated my family and friends. I'll reassess how my life is matching up to the values I profess. I would imagine that I will have quite a few apologies to make to God, and that I will be spending some time on the phone, or in person, expressing regrets to family, friends and acquaintances for things I have done and said. I am sure that I will be telling some people in my life how very much I appreciate them. It is a lot to get accomplished. Who knows, next year I may need to try having an Old Year's Week.
Stephen Willis is a specialist in stress management. He can be contacted at (915) 677-7333 or stresssol@hotmail.com.