Year after year I make a resolution to either read more books or eat less foods that resemble things I would find in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and year after year I fail at this. Who am I kidding? Candy's the best thing to eat and it's my absolute favorite food group not to mention, a busy college student has less than enough time to fit in 4 books a month. My family and friends make resolutions that we both know they won't stick to and my very naive self promises to dedicate itself to this year's concept of resolution. Every year I promise myself something and every year I let myself down. I've become too comfortable with the idea that everyone starts out the year with something they want to accomplish and everyone knows they won't succeed. Why have we accepted the normalization of disappointing ourselves year after year? Why do we start out a new year with doubt?

Because resolutions aren't for the resolute. Those who are determined and purposeful, we don't let a new year determine what we will and won't do. We don't let the new number at the end of the date dictate whether or not our determination for the things we want to do wavers or fades depending on how far into the year we are. The truth is: resolutions are for the unmotivated. A resolute won't need the beginning of the year or a "resolution" to take initiative, to achieve something they want to achieve. Setting a goal at the beginning of the year is just a way of noticing what you're comfortable with forgetting about by the end of it. My "new year's resolution" is to not have a new year's resolution. My goals for 2017 are things I know I want to accomplish and what I am determined to accomplish in this year. Honestly, truly, I am going to do what my passion leads me towards. No resolution can promise me that without me putting in the work and having the drive to do it.

Resolutions have become scapegoats with people saying their resolution is losing weight and eating healthier and never actually doing anything to work towards these goals and not resolving anything by the end of the year. Resolutions have been given this non-validity. You tell someone your resolution and no one treats it with any legitimacy. It's brushed off the shoulder and although this is going to happen with any goal, it's become customary. Inauthenticity that's hidden in new year's resolutions is contagious.

The adamant don't believe in working for a month and giving up on themselves, the adamant work towards goals and accomplish them the first month and then continue to set goals beyond that and work to complete those. The resolute don't stop once they finish one, they keep going until they finish all. We don't accept one resolution, we set multiple goals and we're determined to finish them all. We're steadfast in a ways and we know what works for us. We're hard-headed and we're confident that we can do whatever we put our minds to. We don't need a new year to remind us of that. We are the unshakable, the unshackled and the indefatigable.

The tenacious do not start new beginnings with doubt in themselves. They do not start new years with goals they know they don't want to accomplish. What I'm saying is: don't be the girl who's "new year's resolution" is to accomplish something they don't want to do. Don't be the guy who's "new year's resolution" is to accomplish something they're not motivated to be successful in. Set a goal for yourself for the year, definitely. It's healthy. But don't set a new year's resolution. Don't set yourself up for failure, be a resolute. Be tireless, be unwearied, be optimistic. Allow setbacks, everyone falls into some but don't allow room for defeat. Don't set resolutions.