"You Go, 2024!"(Kevin Hughes) “No, Really, can’t you tell me anything about what it is like? I mean in about 14 hours I start…can’t you give me some hints? I mean I really want to be the best Year ever…and you have so much experience…please?”

2023 smiled at the energy and enthusiasm of the nascent 2024. Memories of his own naiveté flooded back. 2023 saw how worn down 2022 had become as she had smiled down at his own youthful exuberance.

She never answered any of his questions, or offered any tips, advice, or secrets to having the best Year ever. All she would say is this:

“We give them the time. They have to decide how to use it. Some folks use it wisely, some don’t. Some think they have the whole year..others think they can make a difference. And they do.

They are People 2023…they don’t know how much Time they have. We get the whole year. Lucky for us, most of them believe each Year is a New Beginning. Some don’t realize that each day is a new beginning. Some of them don’t even know a Special Moment, Turning Point, or Crisis when it happens. They are just too busy spending bits and pieces of their hour, day, or Year without any conscious thought. “

She sighed.

Just like 2024 was begging for any scrap of knowledge or experience to make his year the Best Year Ever…2023 had begged 2022 to share something….any thing. Anything at all.

Finally she relented a bit.

“Okay, you have a few things going for you that first Day. “

2024 straightened up. Stacking all 365 Days in order for the Midnight hour. He wanted to be ready. He could feel that 2023 was going to share the things that 2022 had taught him.

“Ahem…so the first thing you have going for you…is you are New. Brand spanking New. You, yourself, are fresh. Free from any bumps, bruises, scars, catastrophes, illness, accidents, Acts of Nature etc… . (2024 Straightened up at the absolute purity of his existence. He was perfect…at least right now.). But I am not.

So, you will inherit the scars, challenges, crisis's, unresolved issues that piled up during my Year. No fault of yours. (2023 smiled a sad wry smile, patting 2024 gently before his Time started.)

You will also inherit an Earth where many people have Hope. Many of them have Love in their Lives. Many people will want change. Good change. Some will want any Change…not thinking through what that might mean in the long term.

Have you heard of “unintended consequences?”

2024 scrunched his eyes and thought back to the “New Year’s Class” he had just finished. He remembered that there was a mention of things that looked good …at first, but soured quickly when the unexpected happened.

He was pretty sure it had to do with where Storms hit, War Started, or…Marriages fell apart over seemingly innocent stuff.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Well, get ready. Unintended consequences play a huge part in the actions and reactions of People. People will be your biggest challenge. The rest of Life on Earth won’t bother you much. Heck, other than people, no other Life Form on Earth really seems to understand the passing of Time anyway. And none of the Life forms on Earth- except people- think they are in control.

One of your jobs is to remind them that they are not in control. You could plan, scheme, layout and flowchart a perfect day…slip on a curb and fall in front of a bus…and the plans of mice and men fall apart. “

2024 did not want to interrupt. After all, it took him a while to get 2023 to give him any hints. But he had to ask:

“What’s a bus?”

2023 laughed so hard that precious seconds fell like diamonds of Time from his few remaining hours. It was a good laugh.

“My.My. My. You truly are young.”

2024 smiled back. It was good to see the Old Year, wrinkled, limping, and tired - laugh at his ignorance. He thought it helped 2023 somehow. He was right.

“You will know soon enough. Remember…all you can give them is Time. They have to use it. You won’t believe how much of their Time they waste. And how much of other People’s Time they will waste too. “

“I will get them to focus. I mean we had that Class on things that can be changed right?

2023 regained his sad smile. 2024 would get a rude introduction about that in just a few hours.

“Yes, people can change. People can become more open, intelligent, caring, even stronger and longer living. They can Love and Believe in ways that are miraculous. Their potential is stunning.”

2024 beamed.

“Yes! That’s why me- shiny new 2024 will be the Best Year Ever.”

2023 bit his tongue. Just like 2022 had bit hers, when he had said basically the same exact thing…just 12 months earlier.

“What you just said is the very best idea you can gift People with. You go Year!”

With that the Clock struck Midnight. 2023 joined his younger brothers and sisters. 2019 and 2020 were still a bit touchy about how they turned out. 2023 went over to talk with them.

2019 didn’t turn out at all like anyone expected. Neither did 2020. And no way in Heaven or on Earth would anyone have predicted the Marvels of Discovery that 2023 would make in Science, Physics, Technology and Space.

Nor would they have predicted the unrest, Wars, disasters that happened. 2023 had inherited several wars from 2022…hoping to end them all…only to have more start. 2024 would inherit them all.

2023 would hold onto the beauty of the James Webb Telescope pictures. The joy of new birth. Drawing strength from the small determined number of People who want a better life, for everyone.

Watching the almost always ignored aspects of People that never seem to make the News. Like their innate kindness, their willingness to help a stranger…or child. The sacrifice so many of them make so that 2024 would have a chance to become The Best Year Ever.

The bell rang, the ball dropped, and as one - all the Years toasted the arrival of 2024. They laughed as he sent a cheeky wink at them all:

“You’ll see! 2024 will be the Best Year Ever!”

He heard their reply fade into Time:

“You go 2024! We are all behind you."

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