2023: A “Common Year” Ends

A “common year” ends tonight at midnight. 2023 was a common year. The previous common year was 2017 and the next common year is 2034.

What? You don’t know what a common year is? Neither did I until today.

A “common year” has 365 days as opposed to 366 days in Leap Year, yet more specifically a common year begins and ends on a Sunday.

I was born on a Sunday, and this year my birthday fell on a Sunday. I’m partial to Sundays.

Like many of you readers, I am spending this last day of 2023, a Sunday (also known in Christian circles as “the LORD’s day”), reflecting on the past year. Tomorrow, the first day of 2024, I will devote more time to consider the year ahead.

I’ve read lots of end of the year lists to help evaluate the year behind me. One writer said, “December did not work for me this year.” I can relate. The Christmas tree got put up late and must wait for takedown too. It’s like ending on a downbeat to think of all I had hoped to accomplish and fell flat.

Historically, December has always been hard for me. Cyclical. Earlier this month I got sick and never recovered the momentum to propel me forward.

But as Mary Engelbreit advises, “Forward from here.” Or Jimmy Buffet, “Come Monday.” Or Scarlett O’Hara, “After all, tomorrow is another day.”

While crowds gather to watch the ball drop in NYC tonight, know that the world continues because of Jesus!

I look forward to meeting readers here throughout 2024. Happy New Year everyone!