Last Saturday, January 9th, I was walking my dog and noticed there were still Christmas decorations on a few houses throughout the neighborhood. It’s strange how the same material items can bring such joy in December and sadness a few weeks later. Ever since I can remember, I’ve experienced the post-holiday blues. I start getting excited on Labor Day Weekend – the first official weekend of college football. A glimmer of fall approaching while I’m sweating profusely at the first Gator game of the year. The feelings really kick in just before Halloween. Looking for pumpkins is a family tradition my wife and I started when we were just dating. Of course, Thanksgiving and Christmas just bring it home. Then it comes … that awful first Monday of the New Year.
It takes about a week for my sadness to fade, and then I’m rolling forward again. I typically schedule a trip during that week – being on the road helps snap me back quicker. However, I wanted to stay home this year because I’m scheduled to be gone several days later in January and February. It wasn’t as bad as I imagined because I was very busy, but walking by the absence of a Christmas tree about 1500 times per day wasn’t too much fun. Listening to my daughter watching Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins instead of Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph every evening was like putting on that old pair of shoes and wondering how you ever wore those boring ragged things. Not having an event to plan for this weekend was dull – that’s the best I can do – it was dull. Regardless of how much there is to look forward to in 2016, last week was sad – and it’s that way every year. There is simply nothing I can do about.
Which is why this week is one of the best weeks of the year. This is the week I start to sense a little excitement. This is the week when I don’t see any decorations. This is the week when Monday starts with minor leftovers of grief and Friday ends with excitement about the immediate future and upcoming year: the sales academy my company is launching this summer, my ski trip in a few weeks, and the Orlando Magic making the playoffs (and yes, they will). The second week of the year is really the first week of the year for me. As I write this “Thursday post” very early a few days earlier on Monday morning, I’m looking ahead and excited to attend my daughter’s school orientation tomorrow, my trip to work with a customer in Grand Rapids, MI Wednesday and Thursday, and the many steps forward I’ll be taking on this journey in 2016. I’m still a little sad, but by Friday I’ll have that look back in my eyes and the excitement that my “regular life” brings me.
I hope you enjoy this week, and Happy New Year – on the real first week of the year!
