Happy New Year!
What does that even mean?
Is it a wish, a challenge or a statement of fact? Well, we cannot assume that is a statement of
fact. It hasn’t happened yet, so how do
we know that the new year will be a happy one?
The statement “Happy New Year” is a wish for those that give it, and it
is a challenge to those that receive it.
How can we have a “happy year”? I propose that the definition of a “happy
year” would consist of a year where there are more “happy days” (not the old TV
series) than unhappy days. If that is
the case, what will it take to make that happen?
It comes down to how you spend your time. What will you do with your time this
year? The year 2020 is a leap year,
which means we all have 366 days. That
equates to 8784 hours. If we sleep
approximately 8 hours per night, we will all have 5,856 waking hours and 351,360
waking minutes.
What will you do with your hours and minutes this year? How will you spend them? First, let’s talk about the difference between
“spending” time and “wasting” time. What
is the difference? The difference is the
end result. If you “spend” time, you
gain something. If you “waste” time, you
gain nothing. (It is beyond the scope of this blog, but I would propose that most
activities have some value, even if it is small and that few activities are
actually a total waste of time.)
Some people criticize gamers for “wasting” their time. Is gaming a waste? What about playing cards or board games, are
they a waste of time? What about
watching television or going to the movies?
Is entertainment a poor use of time?
The Bible says that exercise has “little value”, so does that mean that
exercise is a waste of time? (No, the
Bible acknowledges that exercise has value on earth, just no value for
eternity. If you are in a hurry to reach
eternity, don’t exercise. LOL.)
Entertainment has some value.
However, like anything else, its value can be overestimated. Some forms of entertainment have social value,
encouraging people to spend quality time with each other. Other forms of entertainment have health
benefits (like sports). Some are
educational. For all my gaming friends,
research shows that there are many benefits to playing video games (cognitive
benefits and others).
There are many ways to spend your time. Read a book.
Research something that you are interested in. Start a new hobby. Find a fun way to exercise. Pray.
Read the Bible. Start a
blog. Spend time more time on social
media. Spend less time on social
media. Learn to cook (or learn to cook
something new). Travel. Call someone.
Text someone. Hang out with
someone. Volunteer somewhere (fire, EMS,
hospital, animal shelter, Red Cross, etc).
Go shopping. Clean something. Build something. Take a class.
So the question is, will you have a “happy new year”? I propose that it is up to you, and it comes
down to how you spend your time. We all
have the same 5,856 waking hours in the new year. Whether we have a “happy” year or a “not happy”
year will depend on the CHOICES we make.
As you consider how to spend your time, be sure to consider the benefits
(and the costs). Spend your time wisely,
and you will have a happy new year! The year 2020 can be better than 2019 but it is largely up to you. Go for it! Make this the best year ever!
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2
Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)
At the end of this new year, will you look back and say, “I
had a good year”? It’s up to you. Decide today.
Decide everyday. Live this year with
purpose and intent.
