Every treadmill at the gym is taken, cigarette sales are plummeting, and random strangers are being unnecessarily nice to you. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, it's the New Year, which means New Year’s resolutions. Depending on who you ask, resolutions are either a great self-investment, or an annual waste of time and energy. I, for one, am a big proponent of New Year’s resolutions. I have one. You should, too.
I know New Year’s resolutions don’t have the best track record. Most don’t last to see the first day of February. So if they fall to the wayside in a few weeks, why make them a priority in the first place? It’s true, resolutions fade a lot quicker than the pounds you put on from the Christmas cookies do. And it can be frustrating when you aren’t able to stick to your goals. But I want you to try.
I love New Year’s resolutions because they make you stop and take the time to invest in yourself. Throughout the year, it’s easy to forget about your physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. There’s work, school, responsibilities, expectations, deadlines, and pressing issues that always elbow their way to the top of your to-do list. But now that January has hit and the holidays are over, many people have plenty of spare time to focus on their resolutions for a little while.
The reason that I think New Year’s resolutions are so important isn’t always their intended benefits. Don’t get me wrong; losing weight, quitting smoking, and trying to be a nicer person are all great undertakings. But like I mentioned earlier, resolutions aren’t always carried out.
What is important about resolutions is the conscious effort to better yourself. It doesn’t matter how you’re doing it, but encouraging self growth is always a good practice. Complacency is a dangerous thing. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be happy with who you are, or shouldn’t be comfortable in your own skin. But there is always something new to learn, experience, or try.
Being creatures of habit, breaking our routine, changing our daily lives, or adjusting ourselves is never easy. But it’s necessary. The day that I stop learning, I stop seeing new things, I stop experiencing things I’m not used to, is the day that life loses its beauty. What sets us apart from all the other creatures that live on this big floating ball of water and dirt we share - other than opposable thumbs - is our ability to communicate, form relationships, feel, and think beyond our basic survival instincts.
So, while I’m here I want to talk and listen as much as I can, meet as many people as I can, feel as many emotions I can, think as deeply as I can, and do as much as I can. Am I saying that a New Year’s resolution will vastly improve your quality of life over the course of a week? No, probably not. What I am saying is it’s a damn good place to start.
