It’s That Time of Year – Resolutions

Yup, we have opened a brand new calendar. Welcome, 2025. We all want it to be a good year and promise ourselves and others that we will set some goals. So the dance begins – the pressure is on. Typically, we make a list of things we will give up. One interesting article suggests we add things. Instead of giving up chocolate, try to develop a taste for fruit.

So, where did this resolution thing come from? Probably tied to the start of a new year and was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago. The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for 11 days. As history students know, the Romans tampered with the traditional date to start a new year. The Roman senate declared January the official beginning of the new year when the calendar was finally synchronized with the sun. The ancient Babylonians made resolutions, too. The most popular resolution was to return farm equipment. The Romans didn't work very hard at resolutions.

It's not surprising the resolution game rarely ends up as successful. Each January, it is estimated that one in three Americans resolve to better themselves somehow. Statistics show that only 9-12% actually stick to their resolutions. I suspect that the reason for the dropout rate is that we tend to be overly ambitious as we start a brand new, fresh year. Experts will advise that the challenge is to create new habits, good habits. Patience is required as it takes 66 days to create a new habit. Adding an exercise routine into your daily schedule can soon be something you look forward to. Most of us can recognize some bad eating habits. For the Big Guy and I, we eat far too much fast food. That should be an easy habit to drop, but somehow, when we are out and about, Taco Bell calls.

Every year, I pull up Ben Franklin’s words to the wise; his words are crafted in a style of the time and amuse, but in the heart of his advice, things are well worth contemplating.

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
3. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
4. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
5. Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
8. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles or accidents common or unavoidable.

So, if you are mulling over your resolutions, be easy on yourself. Make doable commitments. Create new habits and drop bad habits. Make the resolution challenge pleasant and celebrate your success as you move through the brand new, smashing, fresh new year.