Talked to my dad on Christmas Day, a pretty standard sort of call. “What did Santa bring? What’s for dinner?” - the excited chatter of connecting with someone when the topic just doesn’t matter.

“So, what are you doing for New Year’s?” he asked.

“I don’t know really.”

“Well, I read about a Chinese belief (at least, I think Chinese), where they recommend celbrating the New Year the way you want your year to go. Instead of staying up ’til midnight, banging some pots together, and going to bed, do something a little more meaningful.”

That got the mind buzzing. And it made perfect sense. Why not start manifesting the hopes and dreams of the next year right from the start? Who will you be with on New Year’s Eve and the next day? What will you be thinking about? What will you be doing? And will it be fun? (You want the year to be fun too, right?)

There are so many ways to go about bringing greater intention into the next year. No need to abandon the parties (unless you want to). Perhaps though, wrap your hopes and wishes for the New Year in possibility and excitement. Take them with you to your parties, try them out on a few people. Write them down. Create art around them. Announce them on Facebook. Make them real on New Year’s Day, and watch with curiosity how they unfold throughout 2010.