Did you make any New Year’s resolutions this year? I didn’t necessarily make any resolutions specifically. However, I believe in the turning of the page especially when it comes to dates and eras. Consequently, I have incorporated many small changes across several different aspects of my life. Now I understand that, technically, this last weekend was not much different than many weekends preceding it. And that Saturday (2011) was not different than Friday (2010). But we are in a new year and that is always a good opportunity to change for the better.
There is a conventional wisdom at this time of year that is beginning to gain momentum — that resolutions shouldn’t even be made. Most resolutions fail so why jump on the resolution feel-good bandwagon when most people fall off before MLK day. And the arguments seem to hold some merit on the outside. One, don’t make resolutions and set yourself up for failure. Instead, just sneak the change in privately so if and when you fail it is no real big deal. You didn’t really commit to the change so you didn’t really fail. Two, why do you have to wait until the beginning of the year to make a change you want to make.
I agree with both these premises at face value. However, where I have a problem is that people are buying into the “not make resolutions” wisdom and equating it to not making any changes at all. There is no attempt to change; no effort to better oneself; no positive adjustments to be made. And while I can be as swept away as the next guy at the speed of change in our lives today, we must face the inevitable fact that change is the status quo. And we, as God’s creatures, are meant to change. Meant to be born, be supported, be raised, to learn, to grow, to break away, to be independent, to prosper, to help others, to lead, to give back, to slow down, to rely upon others, to share our wisdom, to forgive, to mentor, to sage, to die.
And if you don’t make any resolutions to change and better yourself from the dawn of your life to the sunset of your death, you aren’t doing what God has designed us to do. So get out there and resolve to better yourself. And when you fail, learn the lesson, and resolve again. Even if it is April.
…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net
