For me, the year actually begins with the winter solstice, not January the first.  Imagine a line drawn vertically through the center of this piece; on the left side are actions begun the previous year, only some of which carry through to the next year, as represented on the right.  Not everything that is begun will come to fruition.

The initial drawing for this was created within three days of the start of my retirement, and it grew out of my brooding about how I was going to spend my time for the next thirty years.