New
beginnings. Fresh starts. Perhaps, in some ways, second chances.
A change.
Resolutions
can take on all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some require more effort
than others. Some involve more of an investment of time or money
or commitment. Some are very straightforward and even kind of
basic.
If
we asked anyone about resolutions though, even with the different
words and intentions, there would likely be a pretty basic foundation
that they all share. Take one thing, swap it out or reconfigure
it or reconstruct it, and arrive at a place with a second thing.
But
not a second thing. A new one thing. An improved one thing. Perhaps
that cliché of cliches, both a new and
an improved thing.
Let’s
say we want better relationships. We might work on communicating
with folks we care about, perhaps by calling a bit more often
or sending more frequent texts. We could identify people that—forgive
the ultimate negative extreme here and follow the thought in general—are
toxic pieces of our life, and reduce our exposure to those individuals
and groups.
We
strive to complete a change. We make moves to realize improvements,
to make things better. Move ourselves to a happier place.
It
seems obvious, I suppose. We don’t often make changes so that
situations are worse. Fair to say, unless you find yourself in
a situation where the actions called for involve torpedoing the
works and making things more complicated and difficult and annoying
and problematic, resolutions and change and such are going to
be designed to create improvements.
Why
do we make them in January? Why, specifically, do we look at the
new year? Do we make them at the start of a new year because of
the celebrations? Really. I’m asking. Because wouldn’t sunrise
of any tomorrow—the start of the new day—be just as good a day
to begin trying to make our lives and ourselves better? Every
day is technically, from a certain point of view, a new beginning.
They are all new starts as well. They just don’t have the fireworks
and toasts and revelry.
If
we can agree that any day is as good as any year for beginning
the steps, then what’s wrong with right now? A new moment? Pounce
on the very first opportunity to improve. Why even wait?
Perhaps
it’s because of the leftovers. The cookies and pies and assorted
goodies we gathered over the holidays. We want to be better, but
the last of the tempting sweets and distractions should be finished
off. Literally and figuratively a clearing of the fridge so as
to start with a clean beginning.
How
long does it take to get rid of a pecan pie and some baked ham?
Give or take a week, plus an evening relaxing with a bit of wine
and some good television. In summary, Christmas dinner to New
Year’s Eve. Just kind of works to circle January 1st, once the
festivities have wrapped up and the recovery is completed.
It’s
the leftovers. Has to be the leftovers.
But
however you want to justify the actions, the simple idea remains
that an attempt to make things better is always a good thing.
An honest, well-intended effort, with the desire being to make
a change that leads to a lasting improvement, is always a good
thing.
I
could go on. (Heck, I have gone on previously.) It is both a simple
and complex concept, with lots of twists and different ways of
approaching it.
For
me though, the part that’s the most important has nothing to do
with the kidding around. It’s the foundation. The intention. The
hope that it’s offered and attempted sincerely to make tomorrow
better than today.
(Or
should I say, to make the New Year better than the last?)
Happy
New Year! All the best to you, and all the best for you.