New Year's Resolutions
Is it just me or isn't this the time of year when most animals are hibernating? When did humans decide that there is no time for winter rest? Not only is there no time for rest, but it seems like there’s no time to breathe what-so-ever. On top of work, holidays, graduations, final exams, family gatherings, gift shopping, and don't forget having to shovel your driveway and sidewalk every day. We are also somehow expected to make a list of major life changes we are going to make. No thanks!
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a fun idea, and if New Year's resolutions bring you joy and get you excited for new beginnings, then have at it! However, for me, making resolutions can do the opposite and, honestly, listing out resolutions just leaves me feeling badly. Rather than looking back on the past year, appreciating all my accomplishments, and being grateful to myself and the people around me who got me to where I am now, I am spending time thinking of all the things I didn't do and wish I would have. I have found New Year’s resolutions can create an unnecessary pressure, an expectation to "do better" or "be better" in the new year which causes more stress and sometimes even a bit of guilt if we don't reach the goals we've set for ourselves.
“Could've, Would've, Should've,” am I right? But who is that helping, really?
There are also such high expectations with resolutions. It feels as if you screw up, you have to wait a whole year to start again, to get it “right.” In reality, it's an arbitrary time to start something new anyways. The difference between December 31 and January 1 is one day. Not a year, a day. Setting ambitious goals is great, but expecting to reach those goals overnight is unrealistic and can lead to more frustration later, take it from me. We love big goals around here. Dream big! But do it in a way that is sustainable and healthy so you don't fizzle out.
The “All or Nothing” mentality that often piggybacks on New Year’s resolutions is another reason they aren't for me. Like I said, big changes don't come overnight, and more often than not, resolutions focus more heavily on end results than on the process, the learning, and the growth necessary for said changes to occur. My grandfather was a math teacher who also built houses. He always said, “If your foundation is bad, your house will collapse, and then you won't get paid.” I think that last part was supposed to be a joke, but don't you think that applies here as well? By making small changes and giving ourselves grace and patience, we build a better foundation on which big goals can rest.
Written by: Gabrielle Ohanesian
Gabrielle is an avid reader and writer who joined SPS in September 2024. Passionate about storytelling, she enjoys journaling, working on her book, and exploring the art of poetry. When she's not writing, she finds peace in taking care of her plants, painting, and playing the piano.