2025: A Curtain Call and Time to Reflect

In this final podcast for 2025, Bill reflects on the chosen end and beginning points of Earth's solar cycle and how we can make the most constructive use of what is typically a time of great emotion.

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Transcript

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2025: A CURTAIN CALL AND TIME TO REFLECT


The holiday season draws ever nearer and the curtain starts to come down on an eventful 2025.

This will be the final post of the year before I put my voice to rest in time to recover and take up duty again in 2026.

Attention spans are typically at an all-time low at this time of the year, so I’ll keep the podcast fairly short!

Arbitrary end and beginning?

As I reflect on the lead-up to the end of another of Earth's cycles around our star, I find it odd that such an important event is assigned—not to one of the solstices or the equinoxes—but rather to a seemingly arbitrary time.

We have the Romans to thank for our calendar and the choice of December 31st / January 1st as the designated end and beginning of each cycle.

Originally, the Roman calendar began in March, until circa 700BCE, when King Numa Pompilius decided to make January the first month in the year in honour of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions.

The Emperor and the Pope

During Julius Caesar's reign, the Julian calendar was adopted and, with it, the first day of January was chosen to be the start of the year.

The Julian calendar remained in common use until 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII directed reforms to adjust the leap year rules and address a minor, yet growing misalignment between the calendar and the seasons.

With the exception of China, parts of India, and parts of Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the world now celebrates the end of one solar cycle and the start of the next one on the cusp between December 31st and January 1st.

A period of great human emotion

And that artificial end and beginning point brings with it a period marked with great human emotion.

Anxiety to bring closure is often followed by resignation that what is, is. Then there is a period of reflection followed, ultimately, by emotional release as the pivotal point is reached.

For many, that signals that it is time, at least psychologically, to wipe the slate clean and engage in resolutions about making the next lap around the sun a better and more enjoyable experience.

The value of reflection

My sense—having probably lapped the sun more than most readers—is that it is the reflection part of the transition that is the most important and most valuable.

Conscious reflection generates deeper insights into the various events and experiences that we are exposed to during the year.

These insights promote greater understanding of the nature of the consequences of the many and various actions and behaviours that we choose to indulge in.

Growth and development

This, in turn, fosters our personal growth and development.

Continual growth and development help make us better people.

Instead of engaging in directionless hustling to get our basic needs met, we learn to lead meaningful, value-driven lives that have an authentic purpose and that deliver positive benefits for the world around us.

Thank you!

With that final thought, let me thank you for joining me in exploring the many new (and some not so new) insights on life during 2025.

I hope you have found it inspiring and, well, insightful!

May you now find the time to enjoy a period of deep and constructive reflection as the year winds down.

Revealing new insights

And may that reflection reveal many wonderful new insights about how you can make 2026 the best year ever.

Enjoy the festive season!

See you next year.