PalMD is a practicing internist in the Great Lakes region of the U.S.. Aside from the great joy he finds in his family and his work, he likes communicating some of that joy to others. He has a special interest in the ways patients---and we are all patients at one time or another---are deceived by charlatans. He aims to change the world, one reader at a time. Previous writings can still be found 
New Year's Eve. This is a profoundly arbitrary designation---the end of the year, end of the decade---really, there is nothing about December 31st that's any different than any other day. But for historical reasons, this is the secular new year. Looking back on the last 12 or 13 months I can say that I'm happy we're marking a new year and hoping the next year is better.
Even though the New Year holiday takes place at an arbitrary time, as human beings, we look to it as a chance to improve, to change, to have hope.
My wish for the new year is better health for my family and friends.
What's yours?
Comments
Well, that's not true! Dec 31 happens to be the day before New Years Day!!!
Anyway, happy arbitrary day!
Posted by: Greg Laden | December 31, 2009 5:45 PM
I wish that the holiday vacation wasn't almost over. Oh, and world peace, love and all that stuff. Happy Festivus.
Posted by: The Blind Watchmaker | December 31, 2009 6:52 PM
Happy new year everyone.
My personal hopes are that 1) Virginia Tech wins their game tonight 2) I get to see more of my family 3) I do better at work :p
Posted by: JohnV | December 31, 2009 7:42 PM
Although we Verdukians may not celebrate Christmas, we're always ready to ring in the new year with some meat and root beer.
Posted by: Kathy Orlinsky | December 31, 2009 7:53 PM
Seriously though, if I had to make a wish, it would be for more joy and less woo in the coming year. So, I guess I'd better stop making wishes and get back to my meat and root beer.
Posted by: Kathy Orlinsky | December 31, 2009 7:56 PM
No wishes, no resolutions. Why wait to wish good fortune to others or make changes in yourself? If something needs to be said or changed, do it right away. When it comes to resolutions consider each day a brand new start--that way you can 'resolve' yourself to perfection within half a year. :-)
Posted by: Daniel J. Andrews | December 31, 2009 9:28 PM
My son told me tonight that the new years' always depresses him, promising some kind of vague renewal but the next day is just another cold day in Winter. The cultural trope of special days where we're supposed to plant signposts is sometimes like a giant crappy "Successories" poster on the calendar.
I wish I knew what to say to cheer him up. I've told him that I am enjoying life more and more as I get older, but grey-hairs telling me that when I was 24 didn't cheer me up then, either. Anyone know some magic words?
Posted by: george.w | December 31, 2009 9:30 PM
May there be less dumb people than the year before.
Posted by: Katharine | December 31, 2009 9:45 PM
Also, some pack of fucking cavemen in Ireland passed a blasphemy law which goes into effect today.
A big middle finger to Dermot Ahern.
Posted by: Katharine | December 31, 2009 9:57 PM
That everyone has access to health care.
That no one is hungry.
That I am a better human being.
That I spend more time in the wild with my children.
That I smooch the trophy husband more often.
Posted by: anthropologist Underground | December 31, 2009 10:24 PM
My wish, more compassion in the world. We all need to remember we are in this together. Oh yeah, and softer Sugar Babies! LOL
happy new years to you and yours.
Posted by: storytellerdoc | January 1, 2010 10:52 AM
I would love to have more patience with my teenagers. You would think since I was a teen just one decade ago (teens are acquired children, not birth children) I would understand. But no, I was an irrational, unreasonable, unstable and impossible teen too. But I digress. More patience for sure!
I just discovered Science Blogs and Science Based Medicine and am looking foreword to a year of intellectual stimulation.
Posted by: Kristen | January 1, 2010 7:27 PM
I think New Years' Open Threads are the inspiration of genius. Not that I'm biased or anything.
I am going to see how many consecutive days in 2010 I can go to the gym. The number will be >1!
Posted by: bioephemera | January 1, 2010 8:25 PM
Happy New Years, Pal!
My hope for the upcoming year is that my parents' divorce goes smoothly : (
Posted by: Radioactive afikomen | January 1, 2010 9:47 PM
Sorry, you have another year before the end of the decade. Please be patient. There was no year 0 AD, so the first decade ran 1 AD through 10 AD, you can do the math from there. Enjoy the New Year!
Posted by: momkat | January 2, 2010 9:28 AM
Hope for 2010?
That human beings will finally start to have mercy on other species.
Posted by: Rita | January 2, 2010 4:10 PM
No matter how much weight Limbaugh loses, he will always be a big fat idiot.
Posted by: Shay | January 2, 2010 5:53 PM
momkat, we no longer have to be ruled by a several century old error (which includes miscalculating the year of Jesus Christ's birth, Dionysius Exiguus has it three years after King Herod died, from the book Zero, the Biography of a Dangerous Idea, page 54). Most people have the origin of their number lines at zero, and initial time counts start at zero.
Posted by: Chris | January 2, 2010 9:41 PM
@Momkat: So the last year of the 80s was 1990? I think not.
Posted by: Fitz | January 3, 2010 11:05 AM