It was a cold, dark 2nd of January. Back to school day for my kids, back to work for me, all after a wonderful holiday season. Of course, the kids were out of their routine and not anxious to return. Which meant they were late. Which meant I would be late getting to the office and the mountains of work piled up over the holidays. I had to hurry home after dropping them off to get ready. As I headed down the hill for home, I saw him too late. A cop. Happy New Year, blessed by a speeding ticket.
For most of us, January is just that way. We know it’s coming, but we can’t stop it. It’s a cold, hard slap of reality. It’s the first day back in the office for many partners and associates. It was a day I dreaded and feared. Dreaded because it meant Christmas was truly over. Feared because who knew what awaited me for the coming year. And it always seemed that I had a trial set in early January for which work was not done as well as it could have been over the holidays.
For many people, January is a cold, hard month. Gone are the family gatherings, the warm greetings, the good cheer. Gone are the Christmas lights that brighten an otherwise bleak landscape. The holidays are all escape, visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads.
January, on the other hand, is Scrooge before the spirits. It’s the Grinch and Darth Vader rolled up in one. It’s the month when it’s time to pay the piper for all the holiday extravagances, whether in money, pounds, or both. Its when we ask ourselves, what was I thinking when I spent so much, ate so much, drink so much.
