Ringing in the New Year
Today was a pretty low key day. Contemplative. Spent a good chunk of time just recharging the batteries, and in the background of my mind I began to mull over a few things. Namely, how people approach a new year.
It’s strange, but I see so many friends putting a disproportionate amount of stock into the first 24 hours of a new year, as if this crucial first day sets the entire standard by which the following 364 will be counted. They get into new workout routines, grind the gorging on fatty foods to a near halt, and line their Facebook status updates with optimistic sayings.
Perhaps this is just the pendulum swinging back extra hard – we start out each year with the best plan and intentions, and we gradually start missing the mark. And by the end of a year, it’s so clear that were not even close to where we want to be that now only drastic measures (read: a ‘fresh’ start) must be taken.
And we know it’s coming. Family members gorging on food at Thanksgiving and Christmas often remark that it will all change after the first of the year. If we were seriously committed to changing our lifestyle, why couldn’t we just make the change instantaneously?
Maybe it’s systemic of a bigger problem, perhaps we just don’t feel like we’re in control of our lives anymore. What we know we should do and what we desire to do never actually match up with the things that we do.
One thing is certain. I’m going to be wading through layers and layers of office-garbed resolutionists at the gym. I look forward till the third week of January when they’ll be back at home falling into their 2009 routine all over again. I’m sure Idol will be on by then, right?
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You are such a modern philosopher – LOVE IT! Happy New Year Derek!
You are such a modern philosopher – LOVE IT! Happy New Year Derek!
I think sometimes its because persistence is the hard part. Starting it and doing it a few times is easy, but making the commitment to hit the gym regularly, or to change that diet permanently takes effort and some amount of courage. There are always going to be temptations, stress, and other difficulties that could cause focus to be lost, and little by little, the same old habits come back once again.Nothing wrong with American Idol by the way. Maybe American Idol and exercise is the right combination.
That's a good point, Jack. Maybe consist consistency is a better way to put it. I find I have to really push myself every day to fall into the right patterns – whether it be managing a career, pushing forward life goals, or furthering personal relationships. It's easy to fall off the wagon, as it were, and then never go there again.And Ellie – whining about people by no means makes one a modern day philosopher
but thanks, though!
charging the batteries? for your new robot that Santa gave you? I hope so.
You are such a modern philosopher – LOVE IT! Happy New Year Derek!