It seems to have been a whirlwind of a year that is already ending with just a few more days until time to usher in the year 2023. This is the time for many to spend reflecting on the number of things that transpired during the past twelve months, including the perceived good, the bad or the indifferent. Some events proved beneficial and others, well, didn’t work out as one might have hoped. People have, invariably, spent the whole of this month reviewing their actions and structuring a plan to simply do better going forward.
The customary New Year’s resolution to lose weight, swear off junk food, stop smoking, stop drinking, curb the lying, develop a sustainable exercise routine, and a host of other promises to one’s self are typically at the forefront of things to be done in the coming year. As is the standard plan for self-improvement with the coming of each new twelve month period, these priorities resonate in the space between your ears starting the day after Thanksgiving.
For the entire month of December the most common thoughts occupying the minds of the majority of people beyond the usual holiday excitement are those concerning the quest for self-improvement. Generally speaking, the desire to change oneself for the better is something individuals express all year-round, but this resolve is heightened approaching the New Year as that’s usually a period for personal assessment and reflection.
And then January first approaches when those resolutions to which the majority of people commit are more-or-less etched in stone…well, sort of. It starts out with promises made to self and even accountability partners employed to assist in the effort as related to staying on track. The “last” experience of the concluding year is embarked upon so people take what’s supposed to be one final…(fill in the blank)…as things will be different beginning at midnight on December 31st.
The inspirations are hot and heavy at the beginning of the year with the initiation of structured plans to fulfill those New Year’s resolutions. Progress continues for two or three months as people eagerly embrace the concept of change. That is, until the “new” wears off and excuses begin to disrupt the programs.
Suddenly, “It’s okay to skip out on one or two days of exercising during the week,” “One cigarette or drink won’t hurt,” or “It’s just a little white lie.” And thus begins the downward spiral on that proverbial slippery slope from which there is little hope for recovery. By the six month mark, any remnants of the previously vowed resolutions are dismissed as “Well, at least I made the effort.”
Inevitably, there is the full-on about face when all efforts for improvement are simply aborted and the idea of change utterly dismissed. The revisiting of old habits encroaches and quickly becomes the standard of living for pretty much the remainder of the year until the next holiday season. That’s when the annual nominal degree of regret begins to set in again.
Coincidentally, the next holiday season brings about pretty much the same vicious cycle as the psychological tug of conviction leads one back down the rabbit hole of individual betterment and New Year’s resolutions. There is, of course, never any perceived regret in committing to self-improvement but the challenge of maintaining resolutions throughout the year often leaves one in emotional despair at the realization of their perceived failures.
To pose a question or share your opinion, you can reach B. G. Howard at bw3bh@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 8103, Jacksonville, FL 32239.
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