The Case for New Year’s Resolutions
The case for New Year’s Resolutions is fairly straightforward: the change of the calendar year provides a natural opportunity to stop and reflect on the passage of time and to consider what one would like to accomplish next. The fact that many others are making similar resolutions, and that our culture encourages us to stop for a day of rest and partying should only increase a feeling of communal optimism and energy for goal-setting.
Except, of course, for all the jokes about February 1st, and how New Year’s Resolutions are always broken.
The challenge then, is not so much to make a case for New Year’s Resolutions themselves, but to counter the eternal pessimism which declares all attempts at change futile, and all determination ignorant.
And to the eternal nay-sayers, I simply respond “why not?”
Do you think that any of us can really convince ourselves that there are no areas in which we desperately want to improve?
Is it somehow better to sit around on December 31st and smugly contemplate that while I am fat, unhealthy, in debt, isolated, addicted to various substances, stressed out, unemployed, friendless, and have learned nothing in the past year, well at least it is okay because I never tried to improve?
There were many resolutions that I left unresolved a year ago, and I don’t feel the least bit better about my failures due to the fact that I never officially determined to improve.
So for now I have resolved to make New Year’s Resolutions, and excited to see how they will turn out.
Loving the optimism…I think I will work on some of my own today…God bless you…
Great case for resolutions. I really like resolutions, even though I’ve only ever kept one (learning to juggle- not sure it was an improvement, but at least I know that it’s possible to keep them.) I haven’t decided whether I’m going to try any this year. Not that I don’t need them! It’s just too overwhelming right now.
I love this! I wasn’t going to do a post on resolutions this year, until I read over last years and realized how I actually did pretty well. It’s got me thinking about how I’d like to grow in 2011.
Happy New Year friend!
Rae, I have missed your writing. You weave words and make them a joy to read.
GO OPTIMISM!
BOO NAYSAYERS!
God bless you and yours.
I went to the gym this afternoon and commented to the bathroom attendant that it seemed odd that so few were joining me in getting an early start on an improved 2011. Choosing instead to run up their caloric intake, run down their sleep, and run out of reasons to get into gear.
I like the way you think!
Is funny I don’t have any sort of pessimism about this whole NY resolution thing… but I think it has something to do with never really having had one before lol. Love the post btw (as always)
I think if you go in with the mindset that you’re going to break your resolutions, there is a good probability that you will. Maybe this year I should call my resolutions goals so that it’s something to work toward, not a “if you don’t so this, you fail.”
Happy New Year!
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