NEW WEEK OR OLD WEEK???

About two Wednesdays ago, it was still October, late October though, but still October.  I was on a drive to Falomo with a colleague. As we drove past the Civic center, I observed that someone had adorned the fence with Christmas lights. Surprised, I retorted "why are these people rushing, Christmas lights already?" Laughing, my colleague responded, "but its October already, how far away is Christmas?" Smiling, I let the matter drop, still somewhat convinced the lights had been placed too early. Fast forward another two days, I’m talking to a dear friend over the phone and  he says; "I can smell Christmas already". Finally I realized, it isn’t people who are rushing, it is the year that is running by. And it is not just running, it already ran. The year is over already, Christmas is here!

But, wasn’t it just new year a couple of months ago? Even if Christmas and new year happened long ago, what about Valentine, Easter, all the Eid’s? When did they all happen? So all the anticipated birthdays and holidays have come and gone.  All the celebrations and plans for this year can almost be termed expired.  My calendar is on its second to the last page. So much has happened, already!

Now, I’m trying to dust my Christmas spirit, I just retrieved it from where I kept it about a year ago. I’m making new to do lists, all affected by the holidays that are now imminent, doing my share of  preparation to usher out this year and receive the coming one. But in the midst of it all, I can’t help wondering where the year went. When did time pass? How does new become old so soon?

And it seems like new just can usually not wait to become old. Think about it. It’s a new week on Sunday and Monday, maybe even till Tuesday, then by Thursday the week is old already and we are reserving duties for the coming week. The week moved from new to old just because Wednesday happened. You buy a very nice dress and you can’t wait to flaunt your new dress. After one or two outings in the dress, it no longer qualifies to be called new. Your university friend was new in your first year of school, if you run into her at the mall while you are out with your current colleagues, you’ll introduce her as an old friend from school.

Apparently, the quality of newness is affected by a number of things. There is of course the time factor, nothing ‘oldens’ things and people like time does.  You also cannot discount the effect of replacement. That bag stopped being new the day you got a newer bag.  What about familiarity, it so easily deadens newness. You meet that guy on Monday, he’s the new guy in your life. You talk with him a couple of times, discover a few things about him and he’s no longer the new guy.

Wouldn’t it just be nice if new stayed new, at least for a little while longer? Well, not always though. Nobody fancies being the new girl or guy in a school or office. It will however be a lot better if relationships do not become sour after the newness fades. Wouldn’t life be great if our favourite clothes and gadgets stayed new and in trend. But, alas, most of the time, they do not. I don’t know what is newer than news and even yesterday’s news is today’s history. What could possibly be older than history?

So I’m thinking, how can I retain newness? Maybe not forever, and not for all things, but at least, for a while and for the things that count. When you are getting married, everyone tells you to keep the relationship fresh, to never settle, to keep doing the things you used to at the beginning. Sadly though, when you have to wake up next to someone everyday for years, there’s just no how you won’t become familiar.  When you get a job, especially on merit, your employer expects you to keep up the ingenuity and talent he saw for which he employed you. Unfortunately, he does not seem to realize or acknowledge the effects stress and pressure could have on that freshness he saw.

There goes the challenge I have encountered in musing on newness and oldness. How do you keep new from going old even with the passing of time and growth? Nobody wants to stay on a spot forever; nobody wants to use the same gadgets forever, regardless of how good such gadget might be. But wouldn’t it be nice to be able to control when new begins to grow into old, and keep things new for as long as we desire?

I don’t know if you know the answer, I just know I don’t. I also know that there are some things which are new every morning and for which I am glad; like the mercies of God.  There are certain things also that should just hurry up and age, for instance, this year should just hurry up and go, I can’t wait to pick up Christmas gifts. Oh, I would have to buy too; maybe the year shouldn’t run just yet. Certainly, there are other things that I pray never grow old, as a matter fact, I will be extremely delighted if they get newer every day. Such as my love for God and my new-found addiction to cinnamon.