I Swear I'll Change

According to AI:

“The tradition of New Year's resolutions dates back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians, who made promises to their gods during a 12-day festival (Akitu) for the new year, vowing to repay debts and return borrowed items for good fortune. The practice evolved with the Romans, who honored Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, and exchanged gifts for prosperity, solidifying the idea of pledges at the start of a new cycle, a concept later adopted by Christians and secular society, eventually focusing on self-improvement.”

Wow! That’s a long time that people have been choosing a small window of time each year in which to make a meaningful change in their lives. In fact, it appears this window has shrunk in time as we seem to focus on January 1st of each year as the absolute of absolutes to begin doing the right thing.

“I’m going to start my diet.”

“I’m going to stop smoking.”

“I’m going to stop cursing.”

“I’m going to reign in my road rage.”

“I’m going to be less judgmental.”

Okay, maybe these are just mine (joking {sort of}), but come on, you know we all make these resolutions at the beginning of the year and some of us are able to stick to at least one as we watch the others go astray and say, “There’s always next year.”

Truthfully, I don’t like making New Year resolutions. I feel so pressured to keep them and at this stage of my life, why do I have to feel any additional stress, especially self-inflicted. It’s hard enough being me, for goodness sake.

In reality, do we really need a specific day to begin a journey of personal growth and success? I think not. Perhaps better served as a daily affirmation instead of an annual promise most likely to be broken.

Thoughts are welcome.

Happy New Year, everyone!