This hideous phrase originates from mainly the Western
hemisphere, but also the Eastern hemisphere, with mainly pious nature.
Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that
they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts; the Romans began
each year by making promises to the god Janus (for whom the month of
January is named). In the Medieval era, the knights took the
"peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year
to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry, which involved military
bravery, individual training, and service to others.
Whilst in the twenty first century we are not ‘knights taking
the peacock vow’, we still choose to make New Year’s resolutions not
necessarily out of adherence to ‘tradition’ but for some, it offers a chance
for new hope.
Nowadays ‘New Year’s resolutions’ hold the stereotype
of being over ambitious or cliché, for
example to stop procrastination, better physical wellbeing and what have you. The
word ‘resolution’ actually derives from the Latin word resolutionem – which means to reduce things into simpler forms.
This just highlights people ability to over think, over plan and goodness –
even overly expect. A New Year’s resolution should be simple and achievable. I
personally do not make ‘New Year’s resolutions’ because research by the
University of Scranton suggests that just 8 percent of people achieve
their New Year’s goals, and so I refuse to be in that percentage...
Instead I think it would be much more beneficial if we hold
off from making these utterly ridiculous goals which are often short-lived and
whimsical; and instead just make a list of things which we wish to achieve by
2017 – no ‘goals’, no pressure, no expectations. This is not getting rid of
hope, it is making room for it because once ‘resolutions’ are made – they
become the ‘goal’. Which leaves little room for anything else and a common
trend for resolutions – they are always only concerned with the person’s
well-being, never really for others. As Christmas has passed and New Year’s Eve
festivities are over, people tend to jump forward and think about what they
want next, what they think is best and what they want for themselves.
In a world at war
with itself I think that everyone including myself, should start with humanity
(resolutionem – reduce things into
simpler forms)
This post is late to the new year as it is in relation to my unenthusiastic view of the New Year's festivities
Thanks for reading
Holly
(If you have any requests, questions or inquiries please feel free to tweet me, comment or email me)