For just under two weeks now, I’ve been telling myself on a daily basis that it’s time to post something. To cash in on the benefits of a new year, and all the optimistic future-hashing that it brings; after all, each new year does bring with it an essence of change, renewal, a new chance to leave the sins of the past in our trail and move towards a brighter tomorrow, one where all of our dreams are possible and we’re going to lose weight, eat healthy, stop smoking, reconnect with old friends — all of the doors are opened at that magical moment as we transition from the cold disquiet of post-Christmas reality and into the vast new horizons of January and a year yet unmarred by our transgressions and shortcomings.

I’m not the sentimental type, really. Left to my own devices, I’d scarce notice the passage of particular days, months, or years; I can’t tell a late December morning from a mid-January one, and my schedule, for the most part, remains constant throughout the year. I know that there’s no realistic value to the sense of glassy-eyed hopefulness that sweeps over people as differences are set aside and people celebrate, together, this milestone in our Gregorian march forward. Somehow, though, I still cannot help but be caught in it. It’s infectious to see so many people joining together to commemorate an event together and forget, if only for a few moments, the fears and trepidations and trespasses of the last 365.242199 days and allow ourselves to believe that we can accomplish goals that seemed insurmountable just days prior.

I don’t generally believe in making resolutions for the new year, because I don’t believe in breaking promises, and the change of calendars isn’t going to be enough to motivate me to do some dreadful thing that I know I should do but simply haven’t yet. As much as I’d like to say here that I’m resolved to post more, to be more insightful, to be more active — I can’t say it, because I have no idea what 2010 has in store for me. I’m hopeful that all of those things will come to pass, but until I can look back and say with certainty that they have, I’m not interested in pledging something which may be circumstantially impossible. So instead, I’ll leave you with this; as we dive headlong into the unknowable potential that is 2010, be hopeful, be cautious, and be proud; do not hesitate for any regrets that linger, but shed the skin of scars earned and lessons learned and shine through all that which you have suffered; do not let the saccharine ambrosia of past successes slake your thirst, but burn with desire for a new achievement, towering over all that you have done; be enduring through your new trials, and never forget, all things will pass, and soon we will fade into yet another year, the potential for which is unimaginable and limitless.

Happy 2010, readers.