Tradition comes up a lot this time of year. From giving presents, to making resolutions, winter holds many rituals. For me, I try to set goals for myself. It’s a subtle difference, but I find that a goal is much easier for me to achieve than a “resolution.” Another advantage of goal-setting is that I’m less disappointed when my best laid plans go awry, and am more prone to pick them back up the following year. Enter 2015.

I’m banking on 2015 being the year of “follow through” for me. For this blog, the timing really could not be better. As the sesquicentennial commemorations of Lincoln’s life come to a close, I’m curious to see if there is any shift in the quality, or quantity, of cultural portrayals of our 16th President. While I will have to wait and see how it all plays out, for now, I will appreciate some good old fashioned TDIH:

150 years ago today, Lincoln was celebrating the new year a day late because another tradition (observing the sabbath) took precedent. Traditions may overlap, but they always maintain.

As I embark on yet another year of accomplishing goals and establishing traditions, I’ll conclude with one of my favorite Lincolnspirations attributed to the man himself:

“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.”

Happy New Year – and I hope to see much more of this world in 2015.