Finis.
(pronounced “fin-knee”)
The Latin word actually has two meanings: one is “end” and the other is “finish”.
The definition you select in any given scenario says a lot about who you are.
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One definition is ultimate in its mindset. It’s done. It’s the end. Goodbye.
The other definition is goal driven. You’ve reached the finish, achieved the goal. It’s time to celebrate your growth and keep moving forward.
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One of them is fatalistic. There’s pending doom that awaits at the end.
The other is idealistic. There’s purpose and meaning and striving for the finish.
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This is a very important distinction so we’re gonna come back to it in a second.
But first, the Roman Empire.
It Began with Janus
In or around 50 BC, PR wunderkind Julius Caesar popularized New Year’s resolutions.
(Editor’s Note: the Babylonians actually started New Year’s resolutions 2,000 years before good ol’ Jules, but I don’t see Shakespeare writing any plays about Babylonia)
Juju created the Roman calendar and, in so doing, established the month of January. He named the month after the god Janus and deemed it to be the first month of the year.
He was emperor, he was allowed to do such things.
The God Janus has two faces, one looking back and another forward. So at the onset of January, in the godly name of Janus, people would reflect on their previous year and set