If “50 is the new 30,” and “Orange Is the New Black,” then “February is the new January.” After nine months of Groundhog’s Day, the fresh start 2021 promised smells like we forgot about January in the washing machine.
Notwithstanding a few bright spots, it was largely 31 more sourish days of 2020. January, with its short, dark countenance and cold temps, didn’t exactly feel like the red carpet welcome to new beginnings. Since, statistically, most of us have already crashed and cratered on our resolutions, I vote for a mulligan month.
Taking liberties, I’ll speak for the collective on a few guidelines. And by “guidelines,” I mean a mom telling her teen to be home by midnight. February, you need to deliver. We’ll start with Captain Obvious:
Twenty-eight days already seems unrealistic for all you need to accomplish, so don’t pull any funny stuff. We’re looking for more vaccines, more laughter, more GameStop stock (when it was skyrocketing), more healing and more hope.
February, this is a tall order, but we’d love to begin 2021 afresh with you. January is so yesterday; so, we will celebrate the Lunar New Year and are starting over.
Don’t let us down.
– CELESTE PALERMO
Celeste Palermo is Senior Director, Human Resources at Newmont Corporation and author of two books. You can visit her at www.celestepalermo.com