the arbitrariness of calendars
We are approaching the end of the Gregorian year, the standard calendar we follow here in the UK. As in previous years, I find myself pondering the arbitrariness of calendars.
It makes sense that we mark the passage of the years, because there is a natural cycle to the years. The weather warms, the weather cools, with a large amount of local variation; the day todays started cold but when the clouds retreated and the sun came out, it was almost warm enough to ditch the coat, though keeping on the sweater underneath.
But it’s an interesting question, why have we chosen precisely this moment to mark the transition from one year to the next. I’m sure there are books on the topics, and I’d meant to look them up, apologies for that, but it does bring to mind an old question.
In each of the calendars we have, solar calendars and lunar, for all of the cultures across our world that have years, what are the actual or mythological events that mark the transition between years. There might be an interesting book there, but that’s a project that would require a lot of research and digging, and there are other things that are higher on the list.
And there are things we tend to do when we move from one year to the next. It’s a tempting time to reevaluate lists of projects as yet uncompleted, and to change the habits that we carry with us. This is something that we need to so with some kindness and understanding for ourselves; changing habits can be hard, and it’s not something we’ll be able to do turning on a dime.
So the new Gregorian year begins in just a few days. I have my list of habits to change, old habits to break and new habits to build into my days. I have the projects I want to finish and the ones I want to start and move along. And let’s see what I can get done tomorrow.
multijimbo 