New year, new me, right? Wrong. Every year all over social media, people vow to change their lives, start eating healthier, exercise or help somebody else. Why should it take the beginning of a new year for people to start thinking like this?
Around New Years people begin to ask, what will be your resolution this year? And they are always shocked to learn that I don’t plan on making one. I find them as just another excuse for people to say they will do something, but then never get around to doing it.
When I was in elementary school, on the first day back from break each year they would have us write our New Year’s resolutions on a piece of construction paper and then they would hang on the wall for the rest of the year.
I remember thinking then that having a bunch of third grades writing, ‘I will try to be more kind’ will accomplish nothing.
For many people, the New Year is a fresh start, a chance to better their lives. However, for the rest of the world including myself, the New Year is just the continuation of the next. I’m still going to be attending the same college, I’ll still be working the same job, and I’ll still love to read and write.
Maybe the New Year doesn’t bring as much excitement because there won’t be anything major happening in my life. I’ll still be the same person, maybe just a little more mature or a little wiser.
I’m not saying that those people who feel like 2018 can be their year and they are committed to turning their life around shouldn’t. If they are empowered and motivated enough to do so, then go out and do you!
However, for those of us that aren’t extremely passionate about something, or say we’re going to go to the gym four times a week when in reality you won’t be leaving the couch because of the Gilmore Girls bingeathon you’ve started, don’t go around saying new year, new me. Chances are your lifestyle is not going to change.
Yes, I will admit I would rather lay on my couch all day to finish a good book or catch up on TV shows rather than wake up at the crack of dawn to go to the gym. But this is what makes me happy. I look forward to each day with the plans I have made or haven’t depended on how badly I want to finish my book.
So the new year has come in full force, I do not have my New Years resolution and I’m ok with that. Maybe one year I’ll have something that I’m passionate about and want to begin change with it.
For those of you who think you need the New Year to change your life and are waiting for January 1st at midnight to hit and begin in, stop. You can begin the change you want in your life whenever you see fit. All you have to do is find the motivation to try.