Tag: #new year’s resolution

Goodbye, 2020! You Won’t Be Missed

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Goodbye 2020 and Hello 2021

Goodbye, 2020! You Won’t Be Missed…

By Anna Hessel

Baby, Baby…

Happy 2021, and good riddance, 2020! We emotionally reflect on the prior year as we look forward to the future, this year more than ever. I’ve been thinking about the baby new year, and in turn, New Year’s resolutions.  This symbolism actually originated in Greece approximately 600 BC, celebrating Dionysus, the god of fertility and wine.  A parade with an infant carried in a basket was representative of the god’s birth.  It is believed by historians that the ancient people of Babylon created the first new year’s resolutions – not about improving oneself, but instead a commitment to return borrowed objects and pay debts.  They and most of the other early major cultures actually celebrated the new year in March during the spring equinox, since that is when new crops were planted.

Resolve This!

Resolutions in Rome around 40 BC more closely resemble what we resolve for the new year today.  Julius Caesar then decreed that what we now call January to be the month of Janus, after the god with two faces, whose image was found in arches and doorways.  He looked back toward the prior year and forward to the future, so the new year started January 1.  The promise to behave in an exemplary fashion was to honor Janus.  Hopefully, we all have the resolution to show God’s love and to touch the lives of others this year and always.  Of course, for 2021, we must resolve to wash our hands frequently, wear our masks, and maintain our social distance, so that we can move beyond this pandemic.  Also, we finally have a new presidential administration as a blessing this year.

Self Reflection

I realize many of us have personal resolutions to enrich and better our own lives.  For example, I resolve to buy more shoes at my favorite outlet mall, drink more mocha lattes from Starbuck’s, McCafe, or Dunkin’ Donuts, to condition my hair and mop the floor daily.  I believe in making resolutions that I know I can keep.  Hopefully, my husband has resolved to be a bit more careful with the outside mirrors on our Saab; this will certainly improve his wellbeing.  I, in turn, could resolve to allow him to sleep indoors, since our puggie Maggie misses the use of her house.

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Resolutions For The Next Decade

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Resolutions For The Next Decade

By Anna Hessel

Resolving for the New Decade

Happy 2020!  This start of a new decade makes me ponder the tradition of New Year’s resolutions.  Hopefully, we are all resolving to show peace to all, abolish intolerance, and offer acceptance to those who are different from us.  I realize many of us have personal resolutions to enrich and better our own lives, but I think there are times when we must be resolute in our compassion to pray and work to fulfill the needs of others.

Where We’ve Been

In the latter half of the past decade, we have regressed from working to provide health care for all Americans, to legislation designed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. We’ve gone from sanctuary cities to children in cages at our southern border. We’ve gone from the establishment of affordable housing to the greatest percentage of homelessness in American history.

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Self-Improvement 2019

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Self-Improvement 2019

By Brett Kondratiew

A Crack In The Mirror

It’s that time again, when we make all those ridiculous new year’s resolutions. What is it about a new year that makes us want to change our ways? I guess it’s the clean slate theory. We act as if we can erase years of bad behavior with a couple promises made to the bathroom mirror. It should be no surprise that making goals to self improve, like losing weight, quitting smoking, or getting fit get broken faster than they are made!

Small Goals Bring Big Results

This most often occurs, because the change in lifestyle we want is dramatically different from the one we are living. A new and better way to actually achieve self-improvement in 2019 is to set small goals that are more generic and achievable, albeit with some effort. Instead of committing to lose fifty pounds by June it might make more sense to promise to forego that 650 calorie morning cappuccino and maybe add a 15 minute walk at noon. If you make no other changes in diet or exercise you will likely lose about 25 pounds by June. Amazing. Not 50 pounds but the smaller goals actually leads to improved health by building habits thru small actions. If you continue your new altered behaviors, you are only 6 months away from that dreamed of 50 pound weight loss. Yes, we can achieve self-improvement goals, by shrinking our expectations to match the reality of our lives.

Be Positive About Self

One of the biggest obstacles you will face regarding self-improvement is self perception. Avoid self-criticism; everyone makes mistakes so stop getting down on yourself!  Stop beating yourself up. Embrace Thomas Edison’s quote “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. The sooner we accept that we aren’t perfect, the quicker self-improvement can be achieved.  Continue reading