New Year’s Eve parties typically involve heavy alcohol and junk food consumption that leave you sick, bloated, and depressed the next day. It’s nearly impossible to feel optimistic about the New Year when you’re feeling like this. What a way to begin your journey toward reaching your goals for the year.
Why do we do it? Because that’s what we’ve been taught we are supposed to do. And as I’ve stated in many articles, I believe that liquor and food merchants have created the model of what we should do through their advertising, which increases significantly during the holidays by the way.
What if you were to do the opposite? What if you were to do things on New Year’s Eve that made you feel incredible on the first day of the year? And what if you were to have a party that brought to together like-minded people to make it a collective effort toward beginning the New Year in a powerful state physically and mentally?
Uncommon living often requires stepping away from unhealthy traditions. It also often means establishing new traditions that serve a more positive lifestyle.
Here’s how I envision a Power-up New Year’s Eve party.
Theme
Abundant, healthy, inspired, productive, and simple living. (Represents many of the article categories on this site.)
Attendees
Like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for uncommon living or more specifically the topics listed above.
Food & Drinks
Vegan & Vegetarian Potluck – Ask guests bring their very best vegan or vegetarian dish.
Fruit & Vegetable Blends – Ask guests bring their very best juicing and smoothie recipes along with the produce and equipment to make them.
Activities
Juicing & Smoothie Mixer Blast – Ask guests prepare and share their juicing and smoothie creations.
Power Quoting – Ask guests to share their most inspiring quotes. (Ask guests to bring these in your invitation.)
Tips & Techniques – Ask guests to share their best tips and techniques for optimal living in the areas of your theme topics. (Ask guests to bring these in your invitation.)
Goal Declarations – Ask guests to publicly declare their goals for the new year. Encourage support alliances for specific goal categories like giving up bad habits, weight loss, and exercise.
Speech by Expert – Ask the most accomplished guest to give a short 10-15 minute speech on how they overcome obstacles and reached their goals.
Phoenix Stories (Arising from ashes) – Ask guests to share their most triumphant personal transformation, reinvention, or self-improvement story.
It may be better not to mention this activity in your invitation so that the stories are told spontaneously and naturally. I’d suggest creating a circular seating arrangement with the lights dimmed. Starting by explaining the activity and pointing out that participation is optional. Rather than going around the room, I strongly recommend allowing guests to share their story when they are ready. Everyone should not be expected to participate. Those who don’t will still benefit, however.
Warrior Spirit Dance
It’s called a warrior spirit dance because no false liquid courage (alcohol) will be ingested and the dance will be of a spiritual nature. Here’s how.
Have the men and women go to separate rooms to put on the special dance outfits they brought with them. The men will put on masculine warrior attire and facial paint. The women will put on feminine warrior apparel and heavy makeup and/or facial paint.
The dance area should only be lit with candles or dim lights. Add pleasing exotic fragrances using incense, scented candles, or plug-in air fresheners. Do not use food scents as they would not create the appropriate mood. Put on some soulful and inspiring tribal or new age instrumental music.
Encourage the men to dance as a group while the women watch and vice versa. Supply or have guests bring percussion and other instruments to play during this activity. Then have everyone dance together and let the dance and group go its own way.
Before you send guests off to put on their special attire, I would talk a little about courage, the benefits of going beyond your comfort zone, and warrior spirit dances. I’d tell them about the dances of various cultures and their meaning and purpose. You should be able to find information about this on the Internet or any cultural anthropology college textbook.
Invitation
Include highlights on what guests will do and what they should bring to your Power-up New Year’s Eve party in your invitation. This would include the food, drinks, inspiring quotes, discussion topics, and special attire they should bring. Don’t give them all the details on what they’re going to do and how you’re going to create the mood or guide the activities. You don’t want them to have any preconceived notions nor do you want to scare anyone away. In particular, I would not give any details on the warrior spirit dance. Guide and encourage it but let it happen naturally.
***
Hopefully, this gives you a solid starting point for creating your own unconventional New Year’s Eve party or other celebration.
Have fun filling up your friends with positive spirits and not the usual poisonous kind.