I was asked if I was going to make any resolutions for New Years and I thought to myself, why bother… I never keep them anyway. Not sure if I set my goals too damn high or if I am just being lazy after weeks of shopping and stuffing turkey into my gullet.
I wonder who the putz was that came up with this idea… I am doubting he followed his/her resolutions either, maybe just wanted to see if the rest of us schmucks would follow his/her example…
For any of you who do make them, I’m not calling ya schmucks, least I won’t unless ya act like one. But honestly, does anyone see a point to doing this each and every year? It would seem to me that if one wants to make changes they should do it throughout the year … maybe they’ll have greeting cards for this next, get some more taxes out of us…
My god, I am really ranting here … help me!!!
Well, a new year can be kind of like a new beginning. A chance to start fresh.
Generally whenever I resolve to change something in my life, I need a good starting point. Maybe it’s a Monday, maybe it’s the first of the month. But something to begin the process. I guess for lots of people Jan 1 is as good as anything.
But let me tell you, as an employee for a weight loss program - we LOVE this time of year. The money just rolls on in.
You are right of course, it is good to make changes when you recognize the need for them - or when you are ready to make them. But it doesn’t hurt to have a specific time of year to remind us to take stock in ourselves.
I never make New Year’s resolutions. I know damn well I can’t discipline myself enough to stick to them anyway and it seems that 90% of the other people out there don’t stick to theirs, either. To me it just seems artificial or forced to make changes with the arrival of a new year. They’re not real goals with any genuine motive behind them other than the fact that a new year has begun. There are some things I’d like to change about myself (eat better, get more exercise, trying to control my bad temper, etc.) but I’ll do that when I feel the time is right (why wait for a certain time to do it?) There have been times when I have resolved to make changes upon my birthday, but that doesn’t seem to work any better for me than to make resolutions on New Year’s Day or at any other time of year.
I disagree. We’ve all got things we need to change in our lives, and I think it’s great having a culturally sanctioned “Improve Yourself” holiday. It’s easy to get stuck in the “someday” rut and never get around to doing whatever it is, and I appreciate the fact that once a year we’ve got a day when the country (world?) forms a big support group and says, “Someday is today!”
Not that I actually made any self-improvement resolutions this year… Or carried out the one I made last year, either…
I appreciate the fact that once a year we’ve got a day when the country (world?) forms a big support group and says, “Someday is today!”
quoted by jackelope
You have just proved my point There shouldn’t be just “one” day where people rally together and say ok let’s change things just because it’s the first day of the new year.
I personally think that if people care that much they would realize that everyday should be considered precious and make changes as they present themselves.
Maybe I am just a grinch but it seems to me that people only do these types of things because someone has pointed out that they should, not because it’sa good idea at any other time of the year.
I’m rambling again aren’t I ?
JustaGirl, I don’t think you’re being a grinch at all. In fact, this is kind of how I feel about the institution that is now Valentine’s Day.
But I guess I’ve gotten to the point where I throw up my hands and accept the fact that there’s this megabandwagon that lots of people hop on. And if it helps just a few people to make changes that they stick with, well then I guess it’s not a total loss.
And selfishly, since I work for a weight loss center, I appreciate the spike in business.
But I definitely see your point. I just have decided I’m not going to give much of a rip about it.
I can definitely see your point, but let’s look at the opposite scenario: If I were being told every day, “Make the change today!” Then the next day, “Today’s the day!” and so on, every single day, I would most likely get annoyed with it, tune it out, and not change.
Every single day can’t be special, because then no day would be special. It’s so easy to fall into a rut in so many areas of life, and it’s human nature to (for the most part) spend most of one’s time coasting along. A bit like the “punctuated equilibrium” view of evolution.
In short, if someone quits a destructive habit, or starts taking better care of themselves, then I won’t fault them for having to be nudged by a socially constructed holiday.
I do agree with that, I will applaud someone for making a change, whether it’s a small one or a huge one as I believe that it takes courage to look into yourself and see something that needs a little fixin
There shouldn’t be just “one” day where people rally together and say ok let’s change things just because it’s the first day of the new year.