If all goes well and this post goes live when it ought to, it’ll be the New Year of 2024 (when you get the chance to read it).
As it is customary, New Year Resolutions are common and will be made; great chances are that you’ve made some yourself already or are going to make some either today or in the coming days.
Ordinarily, I should be making my resolutions too – after all, writers are human beings too and have expectations of the new year, especially since the year exited on a note that wasn’t very exciting, generally.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), I won’t be making any resolutions, and shared below are my reasons.
Enough of the Self Deceit
Do you remember the chronic alcoholic who made it his/her New Year’s Resolution to quit the bottle in 2023?
How far did they fare in the year? Did they even get past January?
It could be that the alcoholic is you even if it means you don’t drink: the habits you promised yourself to stop in 2023, the bad friends, and all the things on the long list…what happened to them?
Forgotten and tossed aside, just as the celebrations waned.
And, then, what?
Back to square one, on another January 1st.
A writer’s job, as Hemingway stated, is, to tell the truth (and that includes being true to himself – emphasis and addition, mine); what then is the point of making a mockery of oneself at the beginning of every ‘brand new year’?
A Better Option, IMO
All through life, challenges present themselves; challenges that need to be overcome.
The soldier going to war makes plans – but these plans are simply a matter to guide his initial steps; once he enters the battlefield, he must respond to the challenges that present themselves on the ground in the manner they do or he will PERISH.
Life is no different: instead of being specific that you’ll quit alcohol in 2024, it would be better, in my opinion, to start with a desire to be more productive and responsible.
This desire will lead you, logically, to avoid the friends that are fond of the bottle…and without such bad influence, you’re already halfway to the ‘finish line’ – all without any fancy ‘resolutions’!
Does This Mean You Should Cancel the Culture of New Year Resolutions?
There’s something strange with human life and the reality of existence: what works perfectly for one may be a challenge for another.
Personally, New Year Resolutions have never worked for me and generally, are a fancy waste of my time; unfortunately, this is where most people are (too).
If this is you, you’re better off without making any resolutions at all: instead, choose a broad theme you need to work on in your life, and daily, remind yourself to do the things that would make that bigger picture come to pass.
Back to the alcohol example: avoiding friends that drink and drinking spots is a good start – then, making certain that you go as far as avoiding events that may ‘force’ you to drink ‘socially’ may just be what you need and not a fancy resolution, issued on January 1st.
However, if you are good with resolutions and they help you achieve your set tasks, then, by all means, keep things up.
Whatever you do however, be sure NEVER to lie to yourself – that is an unforgivable crime.
Here’s to an awesome 2024 for us all!
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