Dates play an important role in our lives. After all, they represent the passing of time, and thus in a way, are milestones in their own right. That's why we always celebrate important dates like birthdays, achievements, anniversaries, events and other celebrations, be it religious or secular.

Hari Raya, Christmas, Chinese New Year, New Year's Day, Awal Muharram/Maal Hijrah, Maulud Nabi, Independence Day, Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day, Labour Day; you name it, we have it. One would be forgiven to think that, given the choice, people would want to find a reason to celebrate each and every single day. Which, at least to me, we might as well do.

Most people look forward to New Year's Day to moot a personal change, particularly because New Year's tend to represent a new beginning of sorts. To some, it's an opportunity to leave bad experiences behind, starting on a fresh slate that is known as a Brand New Year. Hence people eagerly formulate new year resolutions, anxious to become somebody new, to leave behind all the unsavoury events.

In a way, that is the correct approach to life. Come what may, we have to move on towards the better. Whatever rut we might find ourselves in, we can always drag ourselves out, and courageously move on. Although most of the time it's not half as easy as simply going to Dataran Merdeka for the umpteenth time to shout yet another historic countdown towards yet another (hopefully) prosperous year. Of course, chances are that you won't be able to simply sleep it off and wake up to find yourself a new person.

It entails much more than just that, which is why most new year resolutions inevitably fail, or fade, or both. As in previous years, you would wake up on 2nd January still very much you, and problems from 31st December would most likely follow suit through 2nd January, your credit card balance and all. Nothing's going to change overnight.

So, why bother, right?

The fact that things won't change by themselves is no excuse to sit back and do nothing about them, primarily because the difference lies in your own free will. It begins with a grim realization that you need to do something, then an in-depth analysis of the situation, and formulating solutions into steely resolutions. And it starts by acknowledging that it would be a long, hard journey. But like all journeys, it would eventually lead you somewhere, and as long as you have your destination right, it doesn't matter if at first the journey seems to be so slow, tough or rough.

Some people are continually finding excuses to start doing something. "Let's just wait till I turn forty", or "Starting from next year, I will" are what you hear. It's a form of lame self-justification. Of trying to give a reason to procrastination. And more often than not, when the date comes, they'd find another excuse to wait for yet another date.

If you are that kind of person, then perhaps by now you'd be wondering why I'm writing all this today. After all, today, 1 March, 2005, is not New Year's day. It's not even a Monday. It is, for most of us, a date of non-significance. Which is precisely the point. Hari Raya (Aidilfitri & Aidiladha), Christmas, New Year's Day, Deepavali, Thaipusam, Chinese New Year have all passed us by. We are well into 2005, with probably no special day left to hinge our resolutions upon. So, if we really need a reason, a special date to start something, then we can't start anything today. Or tomorrow. Or the day after.

You can always change your life

Look at it this way; any day is a good day to reassess our new year resolutions. To gauge how far we have adhered to it, or (as the case may be) how far we have forgotten to. It's time to renew the vigor to face all the changes and challenges that lies in front of us as we strive to realize our choice, our hopes and our dreams, and any given day should be good for that. Like a basketball match, we need to take periodical time offs to reassess the situation and, if need be, to implement new tactics and strategies.

Each and every single day is special in its own unique way. The fact that you woke up this morning is a cause for celebration in itself. That's enough reason in itself to treasure each and every single moment, to be grateful for each and every single breath.

That's why we should be doing as much thing as we could, as far as we could, as long as we possibly could. So, let's celebrate each and every brand new day as if there would be no tomorrow.

ZAIM AL-AMIN is a lawyer with a think thank. He has two blogs: http://zaimhq.blog-city.com and http://zacknina.blogspot.com. You may email him at zaimhq@gmail.com.