At sundown, we officially enter my favorite time of year. It’s customary fare to take stock of the past year when a new year approaches, and I save that for the calendar new year, sharing highlights of all stripes. For me, I look at this New Year always, always, as a fresh start. And what better timing than right now.

The year of 5776 is not going to start with a bang. No blowy things, no silly hats, no Champagne, no loud parties, no worries about who will kiss me at midnight. This year kicks off with ultrasounds and surgery, with saying goodbye to good friends and facing (brief, I hopefully say) unemployment. In a word: uncertainty. Sure, every day starts with uncertainty, some may argue (I may have even argued this myself). This is different. This is maybe even a little scary. When you don’t know what’s going on inside your own body? When your body, the very one you’ve given extra love and attention over the past six months, the body that’s about 75% of its former size, decides to say, fuck you, you think things are going to be so easy now that you’re smaller? They’re not. NOW pay attention. It’s more like terrifying. And all that makes the thought of having to go out with a sharp new haircut (that’s also coming soon) and a well-tailored new outfit (ditto), flash a winning smile, and tell people why they should hire moi a bit like deciding to become a human impersonator.

Now, it may be scary, but it’s not all bad. Also ahead on the horizon are: a new job (see, I am optimistic and confident!), a new home, a Giants Superbowl win (there’s that optimism again!), and a journey of a lifetime in Poland and Israel. I s’pose slogging through the bad stuff will make all that comes next that much sweeter.

And I am lucky, because I get to celebrate the start of 5776 with the people I love most (though some are miles away). That alone makes the New Year sweet.

I’ll happily be stepping away from the screens for a few days, and looking inward and upward instead. I’ll be starting fresh and doing my best not to repeat stupid mistakes. Most of all, I will let the peaceful, quiet joy that accompanies the start of the New Year take charge and let myself believe, as I take a bite of the apples and honey, that everything really will be all right….’cuz it will.

A sweet, happy, healthy New Year to all.