Why Not Make New Year's Resolutions?

I have a confession to make: I don't make New Year's Resolutions. That probably makes me a heretic. I mean, it's what you're supposed to do. it's like an unwritten rule or something. Everywhere you go right now someone is saying, "New Year, New You!" Everybody's doing it, and nobody questions it.

Maybe I have rebellious streak. I mean just because everyone else does it, doesn't mean I have to. Or maybe I'm afraid to fail. After all, if I don't make any major commitments, I won't get frustrated later when my plans get derailed. And sometimes I wonder why all the resolutions I'm expected to make are all about me and my little life. I mean, if I really want to make a difference in the world, shouldn't I resolve to donate more to charity, or volunteer at a homeless shelter, rather than focusing on my own self development? Besides, what if I don't know what I want to do yet? What if I don't figure it out until June?

There's nothing wrong with pausing to evaluate yourself and resolving to do better, but I don't think there is anything magical about doing it at the beginning of the year. January first is really just a date.

A new year does have an element of excitement, I'll grant you. It's like clicking "New Document" in the File menu: it's fresh and full of possibility. I just think we should open new documents often all through the year, not just in January. Everyday we should be asking, "what can I do today to make a difference?"

The problem with making yearly resolutions is most people want theirs to be big and impressive. "Go big or go home," they say. "This year I'm going to crush it!" they say. I genuinely hope they do, but for me, sometimes it would just be nice to have an good day, never mind a whole year. Don't get me wrong, doing big things like publishing a book or running a marathon would be awesome, but it's the little things sometimes that make a biggest difference.

Maybe you enjoy making New Year's Resolutions, and that's fine. If I were to change my ways and join you in this practice I would start by asking, and then answering the question, "how can I serve others?"

I hope you and I can crush it this year. You do it your way and I'll do it one day at time. Who knows, maybe this year will be my year to do something big, and if I'm lucky I might even have it figured out by June.