Why, I wonder, do we say goodbye to the old year with alcohol and singing an old Scottish song? And why do we feel obliged to make resolutions?
I mean, why aren’t we like the Chinese? They celebrate the Lunar New Year with dancing dragons, red envelopes stuffed with money, and big family banquets? That sounds like fun, certainly more pleasant than making resolutions.
It sounds so serious. Are we dissatisfied with ourselves the way we are?
Over the years, I’ve made lots of New Year’s resolutions—some I’ve kept (more or less) and others I’ve given up on within days. We can make jokes about our failures, but I wonder if this way of starting the year might be a little dispiriting.
Still, the new year feels like a new start. People have long celebrated the change of seasons as a new beginning.
Each time the sun comes up, it feels like a new day—even though another sunrise doesn’t change your life; you’re not starting over as a brand new person. Still, a rising sun, like a new year, feels like the possibility of good things to come.
This year I didn’t make any resolutions, but I am looking forward to 2024, hoping it will be a good year for all of us.
Over the past month, I’ve read quite a few interesting and sensible articles and comments about New Years resolutions. Viktor’s reflections stuck with me and touched my heart.
Viktor Kravchuk is a young Ukrainian man. (He’s in his thirties, though he calls himself middle aged.) He and his wife and young son live in Kyiv. This is from his blog:
“2023 was a challenging year, I feel like I’ve lived five years in one. But I have a lot of reasons to be grateful, especially the fact I’m alive and have the privilege to cross another year in my life. I hope to experience many other year crossings, because I love life and I love to wake up everyday to live whatever my fate imposes on me, even if things demand the hardest of my forces and emotions.”
His New Years Resolutions for 2024: “… to write more, to write more consistently, to enhance my knowledge of the English language, and to deliver more useful and interesting content for you.”
He ended his New Years post with this: “Life is a miracle.”
Years ago, I was turned on to new year’s intentions – choosing a word that you wanted for the year ahead. I’ve chosen two for this year: joy and abundance. Seems a bit gentler than resolutions, but everyone is motivated in different ways!
I love your choice, Lani. Joy and abundance.
I like Viktor Kravchuk’s 2024 resolution. I hope he is able to follow through. I don’t do resolutions but if I did his ring true with me.
All things being equal, I think Viktor will be able to follow through. He seems like a determined young man.
I don’t do resolutions on New Year’s Day. I make changes as they need to be made whenever that is. Making resolutions give people the OK to go ahead and over indulge during the holidays.
Change is hard, especially when our habits are ingrained. But I think we all know from experience that we can make little changes as needed–and sometimes big changes when required. I do like the hopeful idea of “a new day,” but a date on the calendar can’t work magic.
Happy New Year Nicki! I didn’t make any new years resolutions either but I have “hopes” LOL!!!!
Happy New Year, Maureen. I didn’t make any New Years resolutions this year either, but goals and hopes keep us going.
Always enjoy your posts!
Thank you, Judith.
Viktor has a an optimistic perspective on life. Reminds me of my grandfather, who considered every day after surviving WWII a gift. I didn’t do any resolutions this year, but I still have goals!
I’m impressed by the brave and optimistic attitude of the Ukrainians. Even in the middle of a terrible war, they don’t seem to be complainers. My dad, too, enjoyed life after surviving WWII. Happy to be back in the US but totally uninterested in international travel. He’d seen enough of the world, he said.
Viktor sounds very wise. Life is a miracle.
I don’t usually make resolutions. But I am working on a business plan, which has actions for me to accomplish.
How can we complain about our lives if we believe “Life is a miracle.”
A business plan sounds like a good idea … and lots of work. Who needs resolutions when you have a plan.