Today I begin a new life.

People who quit something hard often remember the exact date. Not because the first day went well, since most first days don't, but because it became the day to count from.

A new life doesn't arrive whole. It arrives as one changed hour that repeats until it stops feeling like a change.

Today does the heavy lifting in this. Not January, not once this project is over. The advantage of today is that it's the only one on offer, and it has already started.