Resolutions, any one? Any one?
Or, would you prefer a gift or two?
Hello friends,
Who should we blame for this whole business of New Year’s resolutions? I hear a song title bubbling up.
Blame it on the Babylonians.
Over 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians sought atonement with the gods for all their evil deeds. To ward off any repercussions from their bad choices, they vowed to do better by paying off their debts or returning the plow they borrowed from a neighbor.
Over time, resolutions became a decision to turn bad habits into virtues. From the twentieth century, up to the present, resolutions run the gamut from goals to wishes, to dreams of success in the coming new year.
Most of us abandon those dreamy promises before the end of January. Even that may be an optimistic estimate of our resolve.
I propose an alternative—a new aspiration.
Rather than focusing on what we want to achieve for ourselves, what if we considered what we could give in the coming year? I’m thinking of something to give every day to every person I encounter. What small gift of self would bring hope, inspiration, compassion, or empathy?
My ideas are not grandiose or expensive. These daily presents might begin with me showing up in the present through acts of kindness, sharing optimism, and embracing gratitude.
A smile, one easy upturn of the mouth, can change a stranger's outlook. A simple “thank you” or word of appreciation communicates our gratitude for the small kindnesses of others. Listening, deeply, to the excitement or concerns of a friend shows we care.
It’s easy to believe nothing we do can make a difference. We despair.
I often feel this way. Then, I remember. I have a choice.
The anthropologist, Margaret Mead, calls us to, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."
I can begin with myself. What will I give today, this moment?
If you choose to join me, we can become that “small group of thoughtful committed individuals.” Together, we can change the world.
Happy New Year!
What are your aspirations? What longings demand attention? Do not leave your longings unattended.
What makes a good life? A 75-year study of adult development boiled it down to one important characteristic and three key lessons.
Here’s a song for New Year’s Eve from The Zombies because “This Will Be Our Year.”
NOTIONS
—Paula Gordon Lepp
Look at the silver lining, they say.
But what if, instead,
I pluck it off
and use that tensile strand to bind
myself to those things I do not
want to lose sight of.
Families knit together by evening walks,
board games, laughter.
The filament fixing us to friends
no matter the distance apart.
A braid of gratitude for small kindnesses.
The thin gauge wire of loss.
Let me twist that lining
around my finger,
its silvery glint a reminder
of just how quickly life can change.
I will remember to love more.
I will remember to give more.
I will remember to be still.
I will knot the string tightly.
So it won’t slip away.
So I won’t forget.
Find a little wonder this week as you choose a gift that will change the world.
With gratitude,
Kathryn
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I like the idea of an aspiration. Or intentions. I choose a word for the year too (or several). Happy New Year!