New Year’s Eve 2019
What is it with all the pressure for New Year’s Eve? The perfect date, the perfect dress, the perfect drink, the perfect midnight kiss, who could ever live up to all that? What started as a way to blow off steam back in Ancient Rome with the Saturnalia has morphed into a, mine’s better than yours, evening out. What party did you go to? What bar? What dance? Club? Concert? Show? If you don’t want to go out on New Year’s Eve people treat you like a social failure, as if being an introvert or not wanting to fight the crowds is a personal failing.
Let us strike a blow for sanity! If you want to go out and party-hardy then do, but if the thought makes you’re introverted, social anxious hands sweat then look that co-worker in the eye on Wednesday and say, “I decided to go to my favorite place in the whole world.”
Let them lean in close, eyes eager, and say, “Where’s that?”
“My living room with my family.” “My bedroom with a pile of books and an only slightly smaller pile of cats/dogs/parrots/your pet of choice.” “My best friend’s house.” “My house with my best friend and his family over.” “I finally watched (movie you missed on big screen) with homemade brownies.” “Snuggled up on the couch with my husband/wife/partner/spouse/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend/ lover/bff with benefits.”
Put a lot of feeling into it, let them know how much you enjoyed your quiet evening at home, or at a friend’s house. Embrace that you were happy to skip the crowds and the noise. Let people know how thrilled you were to be no one’s designated driver, and how tired you got of being the drunk whisperer. Let me just say for all of us that don’t enjoy drinking, that doesn’t mean that we enjoy watching everyone else get drunk. What may seem like an awesome night of fun when you’re drinking doesn’t translate for those of us who are just spectators to the show. Let us own our own joyous new year and opt out of other people’s ideas of the perfect good time.
15 thoughts on “New Year’s Eve 2019”
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I haven’t been to a holiday party since before ‘85 when I got sober. My ex-wife suffers from anxiety so that made it even more simple to ignore social expectations. With the divorce being finalized I am on my own this year and am enjoying reading and watching hockey, even though both the Caps and Sharks were outplayed. I do have one goal this year and that is to write and try to psych up to take a writing course. Best wishes to everyone for a great 2019.
Have a happy new year ! I thank you for your thoughts .
Hear, hear!! Very well said, Laurell ?
Too true. The pressure to go out is ridiculous. I don’t feel like risking my life on the roads.
You have got that so right. Have not needed to go out for years. Happy New Year to you and yours. Thank you for all the hours of joy you bring me with your books. You Rock.
I agree with you, I don’t drink and really dislike being around drunks. I enjoy being at home reading my books and spending time with my family. Don’t let anyone try to shame you into going out to drink if you don’t want to
Stayed home with my Family eating good food, cuddled up watching TV, talking and reading. You know, the important things.
As someone who doesn’t drink, anymore, and rarely did when I did drink….staying home with my granddaughter and a book is my favorite way to spend New Years Eve. No worrying about driving safely or who is too drunk to drive, no worrying about what to wear, no social anxiety here, my granddaughter doesn’t care if I am in my favorite p.j.s because she is also. (She is also only 6)
I have enjoyed going out, but ONLY when I knew the place I was going and the people I was going to be hanging out with. I stopped letting others decide those things for me in my 20’s when I realized that it wasn’t all that to go out on New Years Eve. I have slept in the new year more times than I have been awake when it rang in…….lmao.
I enjoyed a quiet night at home right by myself. Catching up on a favorite tv show and just resting. Just made better since than going out and acting crazy and drinking way to much. Just wish other’s understood. They think I am lonely and depressed by this. When in reality it was the most relaxing day I have had in a while
When I was younger 20’s the New Year’s party was everything. But I outgrew that in my 30’s. Now in my 50’s I’m so totally content to stay home.
Somehow it seems more brutal out there. More drunk driver’s, people binge drinking. Generally making an ass out of themselves. A cozy night in with food, movie’s and going to bed early is my idea of a fun night. Doesn’t make me boring. It makes me happy to be stress free. So cheers to doing what makes you happiest.
I completely agree with your newsletter. I collect and treasure many of your quotes directly from you and others from your characters. Thank you so very much!!!
Beautifying said! And so true! I happily went to bed early with my Kindle and husband….and enjoyed every moment
We were so proud of ourselves. We weren’t asleep. Husband and I had a lovely dinner out around 8pm. Came home and binge watched a new show that makes us laugh with the dogs and cat. It was lovely. We are in our 40s and people think we are nuts. But I want to spend the special moments with him. Doing anything really. A midnight scuba dive would be fun next year health permitting. Just us. Always just us. That is our tradition of 25 years.
I have spent more years underwater for the new year than partying.
My favourite way to celebrate the new year is to stand on the front porch and listen to people shout Happy New Year at different houses when their clocks hit midnight.