I Thus Resolve…
Happy New Year to all my followers and readers out there! Yes, I know that today is January 6th but all the same, it’s my first post of the New Year and I wish to share with you my desire for all of us to have a safe, prosperous and happy 2017. Today I would like to take a moment and comment about the long standing tradition of committing to a New Year’s Resolution, that little promise we make to ourselves to make some kind of improvement to our self and to those around us. The most common resolutions are to lose weight, the promise to improve one’s self, to quit smoking, better money management and to work out/exercise more. I’m sure not sure if you are one of the 40% - 50% of Americans who subscribe to this annual tradition but if you are then you have a higher chance of success at achieving your goals that those who do not declare a resolution at all. I like the ideas of resolutions, for me it is a chance to try something different to try and be a better version of myself for my own benefit and to the benefit of those around me. I know it is a New Year’s tradition but when did it all start? Who came up with the idea and why?
The notion of a New Year’s Resolution is thought to have originated with the Babylonians over 4000 years ago as they are one of the first cultures to celebrate the coming of a new year which was celebrated in mid-March, the time of planting new crops. The common resolutions of the time were to repay debts and return things borrowed, simple by today’s standard but still goals of self-improvement. The ancient Romans practiced this tradition as well. (Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar and made the date of the New Year January 1st…January, named after the god Janus, was the god of doorways and openings, looking both backwards and forwards.) The Romans took this opportunity to reflect on the past year and try and seek improvements for the upcoming year. This tradition wove itself into Christian religious traditions of reflecting upon past sins and seeking better conduct for the upcoming year. This tradition became such a part of the church that it eventually became a separate service for some churches called the watch night service where parishioners spend the night of the incoming year in prayer versus boisterous celebrations. Today, resolutions are more secular in nature in the form of promises to one’s self versus the religious commitments to a higher power as in the days of old…but the idea is the same, resolving to be a better person in some form or another.
It’s true that many resolutions fail over time as people give in to their weaknesses and get tired of the challenge they set before themselves (but those who resolve change still succeed more than those who don’t!). I think that some resolutions fail because the goal is too unrealistic. As much as I would love to lose X number of pounds or be able to run X number of miles every day, I know I need to keep the goal realistic in order to achieve success. This year, my goal is one that is a low pressure goal that I believe is achievable as it is also very flexible. This year I have resolved to make better choices. So far so good. Maybe my better choice for the day is to walk a little further or maybe not have a second serving of my favorite dish. Maybe my better choice for the day could be to let the other car in front of me or practice a random act of kindness to a complete stranger. I believe that by making small yet better choices will have a long lasting accumulative affect over the course of the year and I believe that this is very achievable each and every day. What-ever you have resolved for 2017, I hope you see the change you wish to see. Thanks again for reading and I hope everyone has a better 2017 than 2016, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com