"New year, new me." This is the infamous statement made by many people all around the world every time a new year rolls around. By December 31st, everyone decides to come up with a "resolution" for the new year that is somehow going to force them to better their life and make changes. But what is a resolution, and is it really necessary?
According to Google, a resolution is:
One: A firm decision to do or not to do something
Two: The action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter
In my opinion, a resolution (at least in the terms of a new year's resolution) is nothing more than a crazy idea. You see, the problem with new year's resolutions is that, for one thing, we usually don't follow through with them, and for another, it's not always something we should make ourselves wait to do. New Year's Day has become nothing more than a day of lost promises and high expectations.
Remember when you said you were going to clean out that one closet that's just been overflowing with junk? Or what about when you said you were going to make weekly trips to the gym? Do you remember those resolutions?
I don't.
I don't remember them, because unlike most people, I don't make new year's resolutions. It's my belief that there are certain things we have the power change in our lives at whatever time and place we would like. I believe if there is something worth changing, you can change it, not just when a new year arrives, but whenever you think you need to initiate it. Although there are many things we can't control in our day-to-day lives, the few things we do have control over don't have to wait for January 1st to come around.
A new year is a change in numbers. This year we went from the year 2016 to the year 2017. I'm not thinking about going to the gym, going on a diet, cleaning out my closet, or anything of those matters. I'm thinking about health, happiness, and love.
I think about those matters on a daily basis.
I'm not setting up any goal to reach in 2017. I'm appreciating what I have and taking things one day at a time. That's my outlook for any given day. If I think there's something that I could change in order to positively impact my life, I'll change it when I'm ready, not because I started writing "2017" as the date in my notebook.
If you have a new year's resolution, despite what I'm saying, I'm not criticizing you. I just don't want you to feel obligated to have one or to feel disappointed in yourself if you don't follow through with one. As I previously mentioned, you don't need a resolution to spark changes. If you like where you're at in life right now, that's great. Don't change anything that you don't want to. If there's something you're thinking about changing, hold onto that thought and go back to it when you're ready.
"New year, new me." How about, "New day, new me."
Every day is a chance to start fresh. Happy New Year everyone!
