I don’t really make New Years Resolutions… I mean I did when I was a teenager and in my early 20s and discovered pretty rapidly that I would invariably and inevitably discover my resolutions are somewhat more of the ‘non-binding type‘. Much like those of the US Congress, they’re all good intentions with no legitimate substance behind them. After many years, I’ve come to understand I’m not alone in this lack of conviction when it comes to maintaing New Years Resolutions, so as I’ve gotten older I’ve pretty much given up on arbitrary ‘Oh, it’s January 1st, Must Look at What’s Wrong with My Life and Fucking Change It’ Day. Besides the list was usually the same and was usually ignored within a month as largely being beyond my control anyway.
But it makes me wonder… can we actually really change at all? Is it one of those old dog/new tricks things? The older we get, do we become too set in our ways such that changing inherent aspects of who we are becomes too difficult or completely impossible? Or are we basically just creatures of habit and eventually fall back into old routines regardless of how much we really want to stick to that gym schedule? And then there’s the whole question of why do we want to change things anyway? I mean unless you’re a meth addict or have a debilitating gambling problems, what the hell are we quibbling about anyway? And what if the things you REALLY want to change about your life are completely beyond your control so setting yourself resolutions to try and change is just setting yourself up for failure from the outset? :S
And if it’s small, non-life threatening, stuff… why? Are we attempting to commit to change for ourselves or for others? Are external motivators actually stronger or more effective than internal ones? I imagine different strokes for different folks on that one. I know in myself that once I set my mind to something important, I will hunt it down and conquer and/or kill it to the detriment and abandonment of all else if it is truly of great consequence or meaning to me, so internal motivators all the way with this little black duck.
Anyway, Happy New Year to all my friends and family, particularly those whom I’ve reconnected with this year through Facebook or Twitter or 4Square or any one of the other plethora of social media I’ve found myself using in 2012. Happy 2013… I hope it brings personal growth and prosperity for everyone who wants it.
I for one will be glad to see 2012 in the rear view mirror…
