oh seven?

December 29, 2006 1:35 PM

I am looking to adopt a yearly ritual for new year's day. Something to reground myself to my values, and motivate me to kick even more ass this year. What you got?

I am not into your typical new years resolution bullshit. It has taken me years to develop my vices and I'm not about to cast them aside. I'm extremely happy with myself and my life at this point. I do however want to begin to create a ritual that will definitively mark the beginning of a new year.

Right now all I can think of is:

#1 Wake up early.
#2 Read this one particular essay by a certain philosopher of which summarizes my world-view nicely.
#3 Develop a set of goals to which I will strive to accomplish in the '07.

Seems lame and incomplete. What else would you add?

posted by jlowen to Human Relations (21 answers total)

4. Listen to Motorhead's Ace of Spaces record at maximum volume.

5. Drink a lot of beer.

6. Break things: bottles, televisions, etc. Best done in an empty garage.
posted by koeselitz at 1:43 PM on December 29, 2006

have a brunch for all your friends with hangovers. That's what I do. And it's fun and now everyone looks forward to it.
posted by bash at 1:45 PM on December 29, 2006

Do you like acid?
posted by mr_roboto at 1:46 PM on December 29, 2006

4. Tylenol, greasy food, water to treat hangover
5. Shower to get rid of last year's stench
posted by brina at 1:49 PM on December 29, 2006

Polar bear swim.
posted by asuprenant at 2:04 PM on December 29, 2006

I'd skip #2, it is likely to change over the years.. or else make it broad enough to include any changes... meditate... fast... isolate, no tv, radio, car etc
posted by edgeways at 2:05 PM on December 29, 2006

brina writes "Tylenol, greasy food, water to treat hangover"

I'd go with ibuprofen. Tylenol after a night of drinking just isn't being kind to your liver.
posted by mr_roboto at 2:06 PM on December 29, 2006

We go to the seaside, paddle in the sea, possibly build a sand castle or some sort of sand art thing, and then eat fish and chips. As this is the UK, it's usually cold and drizzling, and so this is very unseasonal behaviour. It's pointless, but it's fun.

On preview: It's also a slightly wimpier version of asuprenant's suggestions...
posted by Helga-woo at 2:07 PM on December 29, 2006

As long as the philosopher you mention in #2 is not Ayn Rand, then I think it's a good list.

I think that if you had some structure around #3, then it could prove useful as you come up with your goals / mission / projects / fun-to-have for 2k7. I don't know what kind of structure might work for you though, but if you think about that some this weekend, you may come up with some ideas of what meta-level categories should you put on your list of things to brainstorm.
posted by zpousman at 2:09 PM on December 29, 2006

have a brunch for all your friends with hangovers. That's what I do. And it's fun and now everyone looks forward to it.

Me too! There will be quite a few metafilterians in attendance at mine--drop me a line if you're in the DC area and want to come.
posted by MrMoonPie at 2:09 PM on December 29, 2006

Response by poster: As long as the philosopher you mention in #2 is not Ayn Rand, then I think it's a good list.

Awesome. Nope, It's Sartre.
posted by jlowen at 2:13 PM on December 29, 2006

I think your list sounds lovely the way it is. Maybe the dissatisfaction comes from it seeming so open-ended, like you should ritualize it so that you feel you've truly cemented and committed to your list of goals. But there's something to be said for leaving it open-ended - it's the dawn of a new year, after all.

Maybe you could do this somewhere beautiful or personally meaningful. (I was going to suggest the beach, but judging by your location that seems, um, maybe not very feasible.) You could make a list of regrets from the past year (or past in general) and burn it. Or write a personal manifesto, stick it in a bottle, and throw it in the nearest large body of water. I've always wanted to do that.
posted by granted at 2:19 PM on December 29, 2006 [1 favorite]

asked yesterday
posted by rhizome at 2:24 PM on December 29, 2006

This is a double post. The exact question, with one of your own tags, was asked two days ago.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 2:27 PM on December 29, 2006

Response by poster: Apparently angering the gods of metafilter is one way to do it.
posted by jlowen at 2:38 PM on December 29, 2006

I'm planning to walk my hangover down to a deserted jetty and set fire to a straw goat.
posted by misteraitch at 3:03 PM on December 29, 2006

And to take some photographs of the blaze.
posted by misteraitch at 3:04 PM on December 29, 2006

BTW, what's the essay by Sartre??
posted by stavx at 4:39 PM on December 29, 2006

Write yourself a letter that you will open on January 1st next year. In it, describe yourself at your most powerful, accomplishing goals of all kinds. Think big, have fun, enjoy writing it. As the year draws to a close, you'll anticipate reading it. The excitement of what you've done as well as new experiences you've had just adds to the next year's letter. Do this each year, it is a fantastic experience.
posted by FuzzyVerde at 5:09 PM on December 29, 2006 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: BTW, what's the essay by Sartre??

Existentialism is a Humanism.. Technnically Its more of a lecture of his than an essay.
posted by jlowen at 5:48 PM on December 29, 2006

1) I believe there's an annual broadcast of Strauss Waltzes, ending with the Blue Danube, done by NPR the morning of January 1. A nice thing to listen to, especially since a lot of other people will be listening at the same time, if that interests you at all.

2) There's an annual New Year's Day hike held in a particular park every year around here. Another bond-with-people-you-don't-know activity, and a hike is such a good way to get out and feel the world.

3) A new acquaintance of ours invited us to his annual music gathering at his house. It's a chamber music open house -- everyone's invited to bring music and instruments and play together in pick-up groups -- but I'm sure the idea could be adapted to any kind of music or collaborative activity.

I know this is a duplicate thread, but I didn't see the other one and I really like all these ideas.
posted by amtho at 7:31 PM on December 29, 2006