FLEE NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN

the turn of the year is coming again

The most annoying about the approaching winter is not the cold, not that it’s actually dark all day, not the family arguments during Christmas, but the question: “Hey, do you already know what you’re going to do for New Year’s Eve?”

A few dare to start talking about New Year’s Eve as early as August, because if you’re going to organize the coolest party in town, you obviously need to start early with recruiting people. Because that’s what it is; everyone organizes parties and dinners and everyone wants everyone to be there, so it’s important to bind people to you as quickly as possible. Think of it as gathering votes for some crappy contest on Facebook where you can win a trip to Bali.

Anyway, it’s going to happen again. The question has already reached me regularly (which is ridiculous, because I’ve been fleeing abroad under loud protest during New Year’s Eve for six years, so you would expect my friends to know that by now) and every time I am very pleased to answer: “No, I’m abroad.” The already built-up tension and expectations for The Best Party of the Year give me the chills, because New Year’s Eve is for 90% The Party of Disappointments.

A little inquiry here at the office confirms that. “Guys, who here likes New Year’s Eve? Hands up if you’re looking forward to it.” ….. Nothing happened. Only Jet thinks it’s a little fun, but everyone else fears the pressure, the social obligations, and especially the inevitable gigantic disappointment when it turns out to be a complete letdown from A to Z. And especially that it turns out you’ve consistently made the wrong choices and the whole world seems to be having fun – except for you.

Don’t do this to yourself anymore is my advice. Go abroad, a warm tropical place and step into 2016 while standing with your feet in the sand and a warm sea in front of you. Abroad, that performance pressure completely falls away and there’s no question of Fomo or disappointment. And that’s win win win: you’re somewhere with your face in the sun, and you can silence everyone here by saying you’re abroad. That will teach them.