Every year, like clockwork, the holiday season rolls around. The decorations go up, the air smells of cinnamon and pine, and the Christmas songs start playing everywhere. But there’s one song that used to make me cringe: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon.
It wasn’t the song itself—I can appreciate its message, its melody, and its sentiment. But there’s one line, right at the beginning, that always hit me in the gut:
“And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?
Another year over, and a new one just begun…”
The Line That Haunted Me
Every time I heard that line, it felt like John Lennon was looking straight at me, asking the one question I couldn’t escape: What have you done this year?
And for years, my answer was always the same: Not enough.
The song reminded me that another year had slipped through my fingers, that the goals I’d dreamed about were still just dreams, and that I’d let fear, procrastination, or distractions keep me from taking action. Hearing it on repeat during the holidays wasn’t inspiring—it was infuriating.
The worst part? There was no escaping it. The song played everywhere—on the radio, in shops, at holiday parties. And every time it did, it felt like a spotlight shining on my failures, asking me, “Why didn’t you make this year count?”
Why I Hated the Reminder
I didn’t hate the song because it was bad. I hated it because it forced me to confront the truth I was trying to avoid: I wasn’t living up to my potential.
It was easier to resent the song than to face the fact that I was letting my life slip through my fingers.
The Turning Point
At some point, though, something shifted. I realised that my hatred for the song wasn’t really about John Lennon’s lyrics—it was about me. The song was just holding up a mirror, reflecting back the discomfort I felt about my own inaction.
And here’s the thing about mirrors: you can either smash them, or you can use them to take a closer look.
I decided to look.
I started asking myself some hard questions:
- Why was I letting years slip by without making progress?
- What was holding me back from taking action?
- What would I need to do differently to answer Lennon’s question with pride, not regret?
The answers weren’t always easy, but they gave me clarity.
Changing the Way I See the Year
Instead of dreading the song, I began to use it as a challenge. Every December, when I heard that line, I asked myself:
- What have I done this year that matters?
- What steps have I taken toward the life I want to build?
- What am I proud of?
It didn’t mean I suddenly had perfect years full of success. But it did mean I started approaching each year with more intention. I stopped letting time slip through my fingers and started taking small, meaningful actions toward my goals.
A Song That Once Haunted Me Now Inspires Me
Today, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” doesn’t fill me with dread. It’s still a mirror, but one I no longer avoid. It reminds me to take stock of the year, to celebrate the wins, and to learn from the challenges.
And that line—“And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?”—has become a yearly nudge to live with purpose.
A Challenge for You
If you’ve ever felt the same way about that song, here’s my challenge to you:
- Use this moment to reflect on your year—not with judgment, but with curiosity.
- Ask yourself what steps you’ve taken, what you’ve learned, and how you can move forward with more intention.
- Let this be the year you stop letting time slip away and start making small, meaningful changes.
Because the truth is, another year is almost over, and a new one is about to begin. The question is: What will you do with it?
It’s not too late to make it count. Take the first step today.
