I think Christmas will forever be my favorite holiday, but a close second is New Years. There's something about staying up 'til midnight to welcome in the New Year, surrounded by your closest friends and family that is just magical. Or maybe you are the type to travel to Time Square and celebrate while surrounded by complete strangers. The clock strikes midnight 364 other days of the year, but, on the 365, it's special.
After all of the celebration and eating has passed, humans have this strange need to create New Year's Resolutions.
1. Lose weight.
2. Stop smoking.
3. Drink less.
The gyms are packed for the first month and half with people trying their best to keep to their list, but the end of February rolls around and the gyms are back to normal capacity. It's a cliche to even have New Year's Resolutions these days.
However, I aim to change that. A bit ambitious, I know, but why not try?
The first area I aim to change is the Resolutions themselves. According to Time Magazine, the number one commonly broken New Year's Resolution is "Lose Weight and Get Fit". In fact, out of the top 10, five of the Resolutions have to deal with changing our outward appearance. Instead of focusing on our outward appearance, I challenge that we instead look inward.
To explain what I mean, I turn to the Bible: "The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control for such there is no law" Galatians 5:22-23.
When was the last time you showed love to someone?
When was the last time you portrayed joy in your community?
Or how about patience?
Can you see where I'm going with this? I think as we go to make our lists, we want to make a big impression, set a great goal that seems unattainable or one that would change our lives for the better in so many ways, and that's great! But who says our goals have to be some momentous change? The small things like, "Show Love to So-and-So" may seem mundane, but they are anything but. In fact, I would argue that the payoffs for this kind of resolution are far more greater than losing those five pounds you think you need to get rid of.
I hope this article inspires you to start resolving something in your life that could be hurting you more than you know. Something like unforgiveness that has been sitting in your soul for far too long. I've included a small list of my resolutions so I can start practicing what I preach, and to show you that you will not be alone in this.
Brianna's New Year's Resolutions
1. I pledge to forgive those who anger me (even if I don't want to).
2. I pledge to be thankful every day for what I have.
3. I pledge to practice patience (even when I am feeling hot-headed).
4. I pledge to think before I speak in order to ask myself if the words I am about to say come from a place of kindness.
5. I pledge to find joy in difficult situations.
The end of another year is upon us. I hope you look back on 2015 with happiness and a smile, and I hope 2016 is filled with joy and love.
Here's to 2016!
