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| Sunset, Sunday, 3rd January 2016 |
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| Sunset from our balcony, Sunday, 3 January 2016 |
The
tradition of making resolutions at the beginning of a New Year is so common
that I’ve just always accepted it as a part of our culture, without ever
wondering about its origin. The common
acceptance that, even with the best of intentions, most people don’t keep them,
makes the tradition at best, an amusing pastime, and at worst, another stick of
accusation and shame with which to beat up one’s self.
As a
teenager, I made resolutions only to disappoint myself with not following
through. I made resolutions based upon
cultural and even seasonal expectations.
After a while, I realised that just because a society or a community
held a certain expectation, it didn’t mean that I had to participate. It was pointless to say something I did not
mean.
As my relationship with Jesus grew I began to
pray about the things God wanted to do in my life for the year ahead. If my spiritual, emotional, intellectual and
physical growth were areas that God wanted me to mature into, then I knew the
Holy Spirit would be leading me.
Therefore, when I missed the mark, the Holy Spirit would either bring
conviction for wrong choices or give encouragement for correct choices.
With the New Year being still
fresh, it is a good time to ask myself some questions:
- What is a resolution?
- What is the origin of New Year’s resolution?
- Is it worth making a resolution?
- Is there a difference between making a resolution and setting a goal?
- What is a resolution? This definition comes from the Cambridge on-line dictionary.
1) An official decision that is made
after a group or organization has voted: to approve/adopt a resolution [The United Nations
passed(=voted to support) a resolution to increase aid to developing nations.]
2) A promise to yourself to do or to
not do something [Addie said she would never swear again.]
That is clear enough; a resolution is a
promise, a decision that is made.
What is the origin of New Year’s
resolution? Apparently, making
resolutions goes back to the time of the Babylonians, when they would promise
to pay off debts and return borrowed items.
Often there was a religious association in the practice. Romans would make pledges to the God, Janus,
at the beginning of a new year. Both
Jewish and Christian believers took the time to prayerfully prepare for the new
year by reflecting on their behaviour in the past and consider how to make
restitution to others or/and make changes in their lifestyle. Whether or not a person is a Christian, (or
even religious) the fundamental
principle of making resolutions is that of becoming a better person. For more information, you can look
Wikipedia.
- Is it worth making a resolution?
Given
that it is common knowledge that most people who make resolutions don’t keep
them, it seems a fair question; is it worth making a promise for which there is
a strong possibility it won’t be kept? Several factors affect the making of a
resolution: circumstances, motivation,
purpose and the person. This question is
a topic worthy of a separate blog post of its own. So, I shall defer answering this question by
saying, yes, no and maybe.
- ·Is there a difference between making a resolution and setting a goal?
A resolution is a promise made by
an individual, a group or even a government.
A goal involves a set task with a timeline and plans explaining the
steps required to accomplish the task.
So, it is certain that in order for resolutions to be kept, it requires
thought as to the how and when it will be initiated and concluded. In my opinion one can make a resolution
without setting a goal. And one can have
goals to reach without making an official resolution. But in order for a resolution to be kept, it
requires creating a concrete agenda with appropriate instructions.
There is a timeless and universal
need in each one of us that desires to improve, and hopefully better the world we
live in. Therefore making resolutions is
not a new concept or activity. For some individuals
it is an annual task, just part of the year-end “to-do” list. You know, “Buy presents, cook the turkey, decorate
the house, find child-minder for New Year ’s Eve and oh yes, make a resolution.”
But for other persons making a resolution
is about taking stock of his/her life, seeing what changes he/she wants to make
and then taking the time to plan it out and do it.
So, how do I write between 185 and
200 blog posts this year? A year is 365 days—and
this is a leap year, so 366 days. Divide
that by 2 and we get 183 days. Okay, set
a goal to post a blog every-other-day. Or,
there are seven days in a week, and 52 weeks in the year. If I assign myself the job of writing a blog on
Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays that becomes four times fifty-two (4 x
52) which equals 208 blog posts. However,
if I write one post three days a week that gives me 156 blogs.
Maybe the next blog will be about
“Is it worthwhile to make a resolution?”
Serving Jesus, Author of our faith!
“Lady Helene”
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