Why January Invites Us to Start Again
Every new year offers a doorway to a new beginning. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores Dry January, habits, renewal, and the deep human need for support as we grow.
Every January, we focus on starting a new year. We will take to the streets of New York City with loud noise, TV cameras, people in silly hats, and, of course, the NYPD. Many cities and even small towns have gatherings to listen to music and watch the year roll over. Neighborhood parties abound, and yes, people will drink too much alcohol.
Then the curious routine of making January a dry month will start. This actually is imported from the United Kingdom. Some say the UK borrowed the idea from Finland, where a “Sober January” was announced in 1942. So, the roots of this tradition run pretty deep.
I find it odd that, after getting ourselves blitzed on New Year’s Eve, spending the month of January without alcohol has become so popular. Maybe it is not strange after all.
Alcohol has been with us for a long, long time. Alcohol is not likely to disappear, even with the popularity of Dry January. Alcoholics Anonymous exists in every state in the United States and in at least 180 countries all over the world. Clearly, we love our alcohol, and some of us get trapped and undermined by it.
New Year’s is a time to begin again. Perhaps your habit is not related to alcohol. Maybe you binge on chocolate or spend too much money at Starbucks. Whatever your vice, January is the time to regroup, develop a plan, and begin anew. No matter how many Januarys you have restarted, restart again. Change will never happen without a restart.
New beginnings take time and planning. When you are planting a garden, you first survey the space you want to use. Look at the soil. What does it need to sustain the plants and seeds you want to throw out there? How much space does each plant need to bring a crop to fruition? Some of them will vine around, and some will stand up straight and tall. Some will shade others. Some will need more water than their neighbor. Managing a garden is not easy. So, do not think your new journey or your return journey will be easy.
Growing a new part of yourself is hard work. You will need support, just like the tomato vine in the center of the garden needs a strong stake or a group of stakes to make a teepee. Growth is not linear. We grow in spurts, and sometimes we lose parts of our new skills and have to regroup. Give yourself grace at these times. Ask for help. Change requires support. Be purposeful in planning your support team, and be open to having someone unexpected join you during your support time. We were all born connected to one another, and we need connection to be nurtured and held as we stretch ourselves, hit bumps in the road, and regroup.
Want to explore more about new beginnings and habit change? Visit Psychology Today’s article on why new beginnings matter and Greater Good’s guide to how small changes create big growth.
If you’re reflecting on habits, renewal, or personal growth this season, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support clarity, resilience, and emotional growth.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
