Sorry, we are closed for the year

“Sorry, we are closed for the year”

There’s a frenzy that comes with the last day of the year, everyone acts like the next year isn’t just ‘tomorrow.’ Business owners put up signs announcing they’re closing for the year, workplaces give their workers the day off, or don’t even bother opening at all.

People send long notes to their friends, families, and even foes, thanking them for the roles they played in their lives during the year. WhatsApp transforms into the land of thanksgiving: everyone posts pictures of those they love, appreciate, or hope to carry into the new year.

On days like this, Twitter wears the armor of a proud African father whose children have returned from ‘the abroad,’ recounting all the great things they’ve achieved in the past few months. Instagram, ever the proud aunty fresh from a long, savory trip, displays pictures and postcards from all the fun places she visited and the gourmet meals she enjoyed. She conveniently omits the time the tour guide’s car broke down, leaving her trekking for hours to reach the next village.

Facebook becomes the family house during end-of-year celebrations, the gathering of aunties, cousins, nephews, and nieces. The crazy uncle who steps out in the morning to get drunk, the cousin who just got a new Rover from his “online business,” and the family storyteller who retells their successes louder and prouder than anyone asked for.

Then there are the ones fretting over how they’ll survive January. The salary came in early in December, and now they’re faced with a long, dry stretch until the next paycheck at the end of January. Every purchase feels like a gamble, and the fear of being broke before January 15 grips them tighter with each passing day.

Amidst this frenzy, there are those gripped by fear of what the incoming year holds for them. They reflect on how last year’s resolutions and goals changed nothing. The fear of failure clings to them like a suckling baby holding tight to its mother.

And then, there are people who couldn’t care less about the last day of the year. For them, it’s just another day. They’re tired of the hype, eager for everyone to move on so life can return to its usual pace.

So, where do you stand in all this end-of-year chaos? Are you making lists, reflecting on triumphs, or trying to escape the noise? Wherever you find yourself, one thing is certain: tomorrow comes, whether we’re ready or not.