Osouji is a Japanese spring cleaning regime that takes places in homes just before the New Year, in the middle of winter. Doors and windows are flung open as every space is scrubbed, dusted and vacuumed, never mind the fact that it is bitterly cold outside.

We noticed this oddly timed event every December as our neighbours began the laborious task that is osouji. Lest you think they have lost their minds (why not do this deep clean in the Spring?) the Japanese clean their houses at this time to purify each residence in order to welcome Toshigami, the Shinto deity of the New Year. Said deity is said to visit homes in the New Year, dispensing good luck and robust health. So there are reasons other than cleanliness for the Japanese to participate.

The West also looks at the year's end as a time of cleansing - throwing out old bad habits, making a fresh start. Resolutions of various types and levels of difficulty are made, often with a fierce determination. Suddenly there are more swimmers at pools, more joggers in the parks, fuller gyms and fridges emptied of fatty, sugary treats. Some stick at it and achieve their goals, while others fall by the wayside. Good intentions, however laudable, do not always make for good outcomes. It's the process that matters, in the final analysis.

I don't ever recall making a resolution on January 1. It has nothing to do with being perfect, quite the opposite. Every day is a struggle for me even to achieve a little. And so, every day must necessarily be a commitment to do better, no matter what the odds tell me.

Below:

A New Year's decoration, kadomatsu will often be displayed at the front gate, though we had one in the genkan.