365 Days of Jazz Hands - Day 351

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17th 2013

Today marks the "Pick My 2013 New Year's Resolution Facebook Contest" announcement.  One year ago today I sought out suggestions of any sort to implement as my very own resolution for the forthcoming year.  Whichever received the most "Likes" on Facebook by the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, 2012 (Eastern Time Zone), would be deemed the winning entry, so long as it adhered to a large number of clearly defined parameters.  

For what is a game without rules?  

I received a wide range of entries from buying a boat to running for President of these United States (location of presidency implied).  In total, no less than sixty suggestions were submitted, with no more than 5% being realistic and of those, no more than a small handful adhering to said rules, although the majority were, if not illegal in most parts of the world, entertaining.  That being stated, I actually accomplished several of the many recommended resolutions without formally committing to them (the moral ones, for the record).  

When the dust settled and the ball dropped and the bells tolled, or what have you, "Give yourself jazz hands first thing in the morning when you look in the mirror" submitted by none other than the wife, was the undisputed most liked champion, by a large margin.  

Admittedly, I took some liberties with the "first thing in the morning" bit, but here we are, one full year removed from posing the query on a social media site and these daily updates have not been compromised (much).  

I have been asked if these Jazz Hands posts might continue on into the coming year and to that I respond with mild sarcasm and a note of humility.  

To be fair, continuing "365 Days of Jazz Hands" beyond 365 days would be utterly purpose defeating.  These pages have nearly run their course and in fourteen days time, they will have likely overstayed their welcome.

I have also been questioned whether or not there'd be a new contest for my 2014 New Year's Resolution.  To that I say, "Not a chance in Hell."

I have thoroughly enjoyed this process of writing and exploring thoughts that happen to be scattered throughout my brain...and I shall continue to embrace the Royal Jazz Hands in only a way that can be appreciated after confronting the issue (literally face to face) on a daily basis for an entire calendar year from start to finish.  But all things come to pass.

I have decided to initiate my own resolution for the coming year.  There is a chance I could continue to contribute to these pages, however once a day is ambitious and unnecessary.  Some may argue it's relatively unreasonable.  Once a week or possibly once every two weeks seems more likely, and then there is a chance to edit and refine.  As to the specific time frame of postings and their respective contents, well, that's not entirely mine to decide.  

Based on realizations that I have stumbled upon within this hand jazzing exercise for the past year, my New Year's resolution for 2014 is to reinvent myself...or more appropriately, discard those parts lacking necessity, like unlocked shackles, and move forward.  

For what were these Jazz Hands entries ultimately regarding if not the pursuit of unattainable freedoms?

Freedom may be forever out of reach, but much like anything else in life, attaining the means to the end is not as meaningful or as rewarding as the pursuit of the means itself.  If these Jazz Hands pages are proof of anything, it is that the process of getting there carries significantly more prominence than arriving to the destination.  Here we are, the end clearly in sight and the unravelling of the story may come as a disappointment.  That is not an apology for what is to come in the remaining days, just take the information as a fair warning.  The hope is that you've enjoyed this journey half as much as I have, conclusion notwithstanding.  

In full disclosure, the forthcoming conclusion is my favorite part and if you've connected the dots and solved the mystery, congratulations are in order.  All of the relevant pieces of the puzzle have been revealed and left for you to piece together, but I hope that they weren't made abundantly obvious.  If you were not aware that this was a game built for everyone to engage in from the start, worry not.  The ending has already occurred, you just may not be aware of it yet. 

Time travel is confounding that way, so I'll fill in the blanks as we wrap this thing up.

2013 is collapsing around us as we speak, but in its wake a new year will be born and an equal opportunity for our own form of rebirth with it. 

For what is a New Year's Resolution if not a chance to start anew?

Today's Jazz Hands wipe the slate clean.

Day three-hundred and fifty-one complete.