End of 2010 rubbish

With the end to the calendar year looming, the Internet and TV are overloaded with lists of the best of 2010 in numerous areas, from celebrity romance to best music. While most are overwhelmingly annoyed with the amount of lists and TV specials on the subject, I am fascinated by the annual pandemic.
It's the time of year when people pause from life's hysteria and look back at the past 12 months to reflect and take stock. What did you do this past year -- did you get married, divorced or start a new romance? Did you start a new job? What changed? It's a progress report but this time you are both teacher and student -- learning and advising.
It's also the time when people reflect on what hasn't changed. Are you still smoking? Are you still working a job you hate? Did you not lose those pounds you so were so motivated about at the beginning of 2010? Are you in the same life position as last year at this time, reflecting on the year and being disappointed?
We all do it -- there's something about the start of a new year, starting January over, that feels like a fresh start, like a rainfall washing away last year's mistakes and setbacks. People don't think in terms of getting older, but starting over. This time they will lose weight or stop smoking or quit their job or end their failing marriage. This time will be different. You don't want another year to pass by and be in the same situation. It's the ultimate renewal.
There is no seizing the day to this annual rubbish. It's an excuse -- like looking at a hunk of chocolate and saying, "I'll start my diet tomorrow" and then chowing down. The motivating factor is soon gone and when "tomorrow" comes, there are always more tomorrows for your reasoning.
The best way to stop smoking or lose weight or whatever it is that bothers you is to do it! Today is the perfect day, right now. Even if you already ate something fattening today or smoked cigarettes or whatever, so what? Instead of thinking in days or months or years, think in terms of minutes and seconds because you don't know when your final second will come, your final heart beat, your final breath, your final thought.