The start of a new year means different things to different people.
For some, it’s a chance to wash away the troubles of the past and start fresh. For others, January 1 is just another day in a long line of them, not unique or special for any particular reason. Both views have merits.
Those who don’t make a big deal out of New Years often point out that each new day is an opportunity for new growth and changes, and waiting for the first day of the new year is a waste of valuable time.
While it is true that each new day brings a new chance with it, there is no day like January 1 for a fresh start. It’s only logical that people will look to the first day of a new year as a source of inspiration and renewal.
Maybe you make resolutions at the start of each year, and maybe you don’t. Making a resolution is a tricky business. The very act of making one for the new year is an acknowledgement that you failed to make the required change during the previous year. And as we all know, our best intentions can lead us to start the new year like a lion, only to see our motivation fade as the days march on.
But previous failure is no reason not to strive to be better in the future.
Maybe you are currently pledging to get back to the gym in January to finally lose those pounds. Perhaps you want to reconnect with your family, or write that book that’s been kicking around inside your head. Maybe your big goal is to get a driver’s license, to graduate school, to eliminate debt.
Making such goals is commendable. We all have things to work on, and that’s okay. No matter how many resolutions we make and successfully fulfill, there will never come a day when we wake up and find ourselves with no problem areas to address. Nobody is perfect, and nobody ever will be. With each day we should be striving to push forward, past our old limitations and towards new challenges. Understanding this is key to finding the success you’re looking for in the new year. Why do most resolutions go unfulfilled? Because our energy wanes, and our commitment wavers, and soon we find that it’s hard enough just getting through each day.
We must realize that most goals will not be accomplished in a day, or even a week. Some will require nothing less than the total overhaul of our lifestyles. But if a goal is important enough for you to devote yourself to it in the first place, it’s important enough to be seen through to the end.
With that in mind, let’s do our best with each new day, and forgive ourselves for those days when we think we could have done better. Happy New Year.
