Auld Lang Syne

Along with millions of other people I have sung this song with other people, arms linked, smiling and momentarily happy at the stroke of midnight to welcome in the bright New Year.

And like millions of other people (I am pretty sure) I really didn’t know the words or in fact what it was all about. I mean, like everyone else when you get to the chorus it is full volume and no holding back:

‘For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for (the sake) of auld lang syne’

You can check out one version of the full lyrics at www.robertburns.org

Now it may not completely matter that most of us don’t know either the words or the meaning, it is perhaps one of those ‘all in the moment’ things – it is how we feel and how we interact with others at that point of time and the feeling of goodwill and hope for the future etc that is the main issue, But last year I experienced something slightly different at my New Year Eve party.

The host, not even a Scot I might add, decided that it would be good if all the party folk did know the words and understood a little what it was all about. Now I am sure that you can imagine that a bunch of adults, gathered already for a few hours and fuelled by the odd bottle of drink (or two or …) might not react so well to someone deciding to lead them in a short history and literary lesson at 30 minutes to midnight. And you would be right, it was a battle for the host to get some focus and attention but this he did. He kept it short and to the point, gave us the lyrics to read if we wished, and explained the origins of the song made famous by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788 after he heard it sung by an old man. Even at this point in time Auld Lang Syne was apparently pretty old, it was steeped in history through oral tradition and literary reference. However, it as the Burns version that helped to make it so popular.

He summed up to meaning in three points:

• Auld Lang Syne is about the endurance of friendships
• It is about cherishing the past as we look also to the future,
• And, here is the good news, it is also about sinking a few drinks as wellAs midnight came we joined hands, sang (some with the lyrics, some without) this unifying song with all our energy and enthusiasm.I think that this small addition of understanding helped the shared experience be that much better and I thank the host for this.In our projects each day, a joint passion and team spirit means an awful lot but if you can combine this with a clear and simple shared vision it makes it so much better.For the sake of Auld Lang Syne.

As midnight came we joined hands, sang (some with the lyrics, some without) this unifying song with all our energy and enthusiasm.

I think that this small addition of understanding helped the shared experience be that much better and I thank the host for this.

In our projects each day, a joint passion and team spirit means an awful lot but if you can combine this with a clear and simple shared vision it makes it so much better.

I wish you all a wonderful 2015 and thank you as ever for all of your support and passion.

For the sake of Auld Lang Syne.

Tags: 2015, apm, auld langs syne, ipma, lazy project manager, PMI, project, project author, project management speaker, project manager. project management, project speaker