Resolution is Key.

For the first time in who knows how long my mundane New Year's Eve routine was altered this year. Unlike any other previous celebration, I was surrounded by a family I hardly get to see. Long distance and busy schedules have been unkind to us over the years, but this year was a grateful exception. As we gathered in a rather luxurious house in the middle of Jackson, Mississippi we went around the room stating our New Year's resolutions, which I've never really been a strong believer in. One by one they were listed off, some much more cliche than others, but all greatly within reach. Consequently I wondered why now? What in this solitary moment of time convinces us that we suddenly need to do better, to be better? Everyday could be December 31 or January 1st. Where does the significance lie in the all empowering flip of a calendar from one year to the next? It's a bunch of rubbish. 

Don't get me wrong, the concept is absolutely right, but it should not be limited to a single moment. If anything the end of the year serves as nothing more than a moment of pure reflection on all the accomplishments as well as the downfalls the past year entailed. More likely than not, the downfalls themselves are where the resolutions stem from. Perhaps, at the least, its a strive for redemption for what couldn't be accomplished in the allotted time given or simply a lack of desire to. Take the classic resolution of wanting to get back in shape. The gym is flooded with newcomers the first few weeks of the new year, but steadily the spike in activity declines as people retreat back into their comfortable, old habits. They've met the status quo for what's expected of resolutioners, time to move on. It's those people that lead me to question the whole point of making a resolution when it is just a social statement and nothing more. 

Alas, I find myself far off topic and even further from the point I'm trying to make. Despite the cases of those who say things without any meaning behind them for the sake of creating what's expected through a simple resolution, the idea is absolutely right as I said before. The times when resolutions are successful are when they are made on a daily basis, when we don't wait for a pivotal moment or flip of a calendar to assess the quality of what we're doing and who we are becoming. The definition of resolution is two-fold and both apply here. 

res·o·lu·tion ˌ 

rezəˈlo͞oSHən/Submit noun 

1.a firm decision to do or not to do something.

2. the action of solving a problem, dispute, or contentious matter.

Primarily, we must continuously reflect and be aware of the decisions we are making and the effect they are having on other people and also on ourselves. Once a problem or weakness in our character or simply in our decision making is identified, we must make a decision to do something about it, otherwise known as a resolution. If a bit of this introspection occurs throughout the year, resolutions can be ever present leading us only to become better people. Personally, I believe there is always room for improvement, but that mustn't be confused with not being proud of all that you are today in this very moment. It's okay to be proud of your strengths as long as you also recognize and do your best to resolve your self-defined weaknesses. 

The bottom line is that resolutions are an absolutely simple and effective way to manage and improve yourself without having to pick out one thing on December 31 that you possibly would like to improve and hardly get the chance to follow through. That's a useless approach. There's no point in waiting for one day of the year to suddenly commit yourself to changing or becoming better when every second of every day is an opportunity to decide that this is not good enough, to recognize that there is always room for improvement, to not merely be hungry but to feverishly chase the one thing that will make you feel full if only for a moment. And once those things are decided, recognized, and endlessly pursued success is eminent, only if resolution is present because resolution is key.