Public Spark

Hope all of my readers are enjoying the last day of 2007. As I countdown to 2008, there are several things that I do to welcome the new year.

1. Refection

   New Year’s Eve is a good time for me to reflect upon the past year. If I were to sum up 2007 in one word, it would be “transition.” The transitional events included my graduation, Hawaiian traveling adventure, attending several friends’ weddings and starting Public Spark. If you were to sum up your year, what has it been like?

2. Keeping with Tradition both American and Japanese

   The American tradition I enjoy is watching the ball drop at the Rockefeller Center. I am planning my trip so that one day I can be amongst the crowd. Although lately, people have been telling me that it’s rather a claustrophobic experience, so I don’t know if I will be able to handle it.

   Our family has also kept some of the Japanese traditions. We prepare the Hagoita, which is a wooden paddle painted in lacquer with silk collages. In front of it, we place the kasane mochi (piled mochi) as offerings to the gods. We also eat the buckwheat noodles called “toshi koshi soba”, which symbolizes longevity, good luck and family fortune. Lastly, I help my dad prepare for the new years feast.

3. Text messaging/ glitter texting

   As the countdown gets closer I start the text messaging ritual, as well as massive decorating on myspace and facebook. I like using MyTextGraphics to leave messages on my friends’ profiles.

4. Spend time with family and friends

   I enjoy spending time with my family and friends in general, but especially during the transition to the new year. I like being surrounded by people I care about and somehow I feel and I do have a great year.

5. No resolutions

   I don’t set resolutions anymore, mainly because I believe that it can be overwhelming and disappointing. Also, I tended to make unrealistic resolutions without a clear day by day path and then I would set it aside for the next new year resolution. Now, I set large goals about every month and little goals every day. For example, I have a large goal next year, which is to pay back my school loans. If that were my resolution, I would have a vague notion of how to get there. Instead, I make a day by day list. In this case, with the aid of my mom, who is an accountant, I have printed a sheet showing the whole amount of the loan broken down by the monthly minimum payment. I have started budgeting and charting my monthly known expenses (groceries and gas), salary, and I leave room for extra miscellaneous things along the way. I have found that I can pay back my loans in one year by tripling the minimum payment. By breaking down my numbers and seeing it, I have found it to be a doable goal. In essence, I have large goals, but also I have set aside little tasks on how to get there.

   My favorite quote is “Inch by Inch is a cinch, but yard by yard is hard,” taught by my mentor.
   Also, Financial Hack is a great blog that lists reasons on why you shouldn’t make new year resolutions.

I would love to learn about your New year’s eve traditions!