Stray thoughts on New Year (2016)

K Radhakumar *

New Year picnic at Singda Dam on 1st January 2016 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

New Year's Day is the first day of a year. And the New Year is the time when we celebrate the start of a year. We try to have a marvelous time over New Year.

'Happy New Year!' 'And the same to you! ' A greetings card, in British English, or a greeting card, in American English is nothing but a folded card with a picture on the front and greetings inside.

The greetings is ideally handwritten to express intimacy and friendliness. Please write the name of your friend and yours at least in good hand even when you do not write the entire text of the greetings. When this simple card is given or sent to a friend, especially in our younger days, the friend is in seventh heaven instantly.

A small card makes a refreshing change. So, what do we need to do on the New Year's Day? Mon vieux! Greet your friend.

Say 'hello' or shake his hand. Change – a great change is brought about by a word, a phrase or a smile. Greet your friend with a wide smile. See and feel the change. The change that will affect you both – your friend and yourself. Do not switch off your mobile phone. Call your friend on his mobile.

If he does not pick up, send an SMS. New Year's Day is not an ordinary sort of day. Just think that there is something special about this day. When you wake up on this day, look out of the window and say it to yourself – Today is a new day. You will be surprised to see that the sun is shining and birds are singing. Outside, the dew-clad flowers are about to change clothes in the sweet sunshine.

And who says sunshine is not sweet in winter? The dew-clad flowers know they need to change out of those wet things. The flowers change into warm and colourful clothes.

On the New Year's Day
The sun shines bright
On the eastern horizon;
The golden morning has
A wealth of bird life
And these sing away care;
A garden full of flowers are
In full bloom, in full bloom
Heralding a new life.

So, what do I do in the morning on New Year's Day? I will wash and change before doing anything. I will drain out the hangovers of bad yesterdays from my mental make-up.

My mind needs washing as much as my clothes. Every day is a new day. Today is a new day. Good food. Good wine.

Good company. Enjoy the day – the reality at hand. Nobody knows what will happen next. Think that there was no yesterday and that there will be no tomorrow.

The spirit – the right attitude! This is what matters most in life. Never begin a day in the wrong spirit. Why spoil the day with a wrong note?

Perform well on the stage of life. Perform with enthusiasm, energy and self-confidence. You are a unique person.

There is nobody like you in this vast world. Your performance full of spirit and originality – this is what other people appreciate in you. And you will enjoy playing your part.

Will I be able to help other people? It's just a thought. Just a thought of a man who wants to live his life before he dies his death.

With best wishes