I did a reading for the New Year this morning. It's a "Year Ahead" reading that I found in the Tarot Bible. It says that the astrological year starts in April, so the first card is for April. But you start reading the cards with the current month. So:

10 - January - 5 of Swords
11 - February - 3 of Swords
12 - March - 10 of Pentacles
1 - April - 4 of Cups
2 - May - Queen of Swords
3 - June - 5 of Pentacles
4 - July - 2 of Cups
5 - August - 3 of Cups
6 - September - 2 of Wands
7 - October - Judgement
8 - November - The Sun
9 - December - The Empress

So, for January, the 5 of Swords. This is a difficult card. It shows a man in the foreground smirking over the swords that he has taken from his rivals, who slink away in disgrace.

Most interpretations tell you to expect conflict when you see this card; to give up the fight and accept defeat. They say it may mean humiliation, perhaps, if you identify with the losers, or, if you identify with the victor, dishonor or trickery.

However, in Learn Tarot, Joan Bunning gives the card a more positive meaning:

Sometimes this card implies a need to put your own interests first. If you are being abused or taken advantage of, you must get free. If you are worn out by demands, take care of yourself. If it is your turn, step forward and claim your due. Just be aware that if you hurt others in the process, your victory will not feel complete.

Tarot.com says:

This card admonishes the loser to study carefully what went wrong, so that a new strategy can be devised and more setbacks forestalled. There is a need to regroup and rethink the game plan, discover your blind spots and weak links, and take corrective measures before getting back into the field for another round.

I think in this case that this card means that maybe it's time to put ourselves first for a change, to concentrate on our own needs, being mindful, of course, that we shouldn't put ourselves first to the detriment of others. Perhaps it's just a reminder that while it is important to think of, and care for, other people, we mustn't forget that we also need to care for ourselves, and that unless we do care for ourselves, we won't be able to do anything for anyone else.