Perhaps we should abandon resolutions, if only to not make ourselves suffer more. One alternate pledge we might take up as we stare down 2025 might be to forgo the upright vows to spend hours on a treadmill or never eat sugar again, and attempt, instead, something like making peace with our own foibles and failures. This does not require us to stop seeing ourselves for the flawed beings that we are; merely to indulge those flawed beings every once in a while, or at the very least to keep their failures in proportion.
As I head into the new year, I have no shortage of opportunities to catalogue my own faults – and if I forget, there’s a chance some of my relatives will do so for me. But I hope to treat them as I might treat an old friend, one whom I can see clearly and still feel a certain warmth towards. There will be no moment in the coming year when any of us, I or you, are unburdened of our defects. Instead, we will keep on being what we have always been: irascible, messy, stubborn, selfish, lazy, impulsive and alive.
— Moira Donegan, from “My new year resolution? Abandon new year resolutions once and for all” (The Guardian, January 2, 2025)
We were talking about this yesterday – January is arguably the worst time of year to commit to a resolution. It’s freezing precipitation here – and the thought of going for a run – or a walk – gets the Scarlett O’Hara treatment – ‘I’ll start tomorrow’. Internal changes? Why wait until SAD isn’t top of mind – so to speak. Perhaps just acknowledge a resolution when it’s warm and sunny…
Oh, so agree with that Mimi!
WMS. I abandoned resolutions years ago, as I found them more a pesky vehicle for subsequent self-excoriation than a motivator. These days my preferred M.O. is a guiding word that I hold close to my heart and employ as a touchstone to keep me focused/headed in the direction I favor. 😌
“Self-Excoriation” – love this. I have a Master’s degree here!
The Truth!
Truth!
Agree!
yes, I love her approach much better than the ‘resolutions’ idea. embrace our humanity with all of its imperfections
Agree with you Beth! Happy New Year!*
This post is timely as I was recently sharing with a friend that I’m learning to embrace my flaws as I get older .
Hey Bim. Happy New Year! I’m still learning and have a long to go!
I wanted to let you know something important…..if your relatives forget to remind you of your faults… I will step in. Don’t worry. Challenge Accepted.
New Year. Same you.
Thank goodness. Right!?
Resolution is a dissolution
That it is….
Life is too Beautiful for this stuff. Just do a little bit of all the good stuff on a daily basis, go to bed early, wake up early.
Truth!
Good one. Less obsessed and more self loving are always a good thing. Happy new year, David! 🎊❤️
Yes! Happy New Year Bela!
Thanks!
Hey man, be positive into 2025. Keep writing!
I’m working on both Ben (being positive and more writing!) Thanks!
I like making resolutions, even if I end up breaking them.
Good for you Jim!
If “an unexamined life is not worth living” as the wise Socrates said, why would this not apply daily as opposed to once a year?
Truth Valerie!