New Year’s Resolution History and Hype

What is you New Year’s Resolution

My New Year’s resolution ? That’s easy.  To work less, live more and love like no one’s watching.  For some the concept of a New Year’s resolution is un-needed and honestly there is a part of me that agrees with that.  For many the start of a new year is the reason to go head on into an issue that has been plaguing you, as a New Year’s resolution is born in the promise of a second chance.  Now whether that second chance is a placebo effect or not, sometimes a New Year’s resolution can reshape the entire life of an individual, other times it can control them.

What started the whole idea behind a New Year’s resolution?  Well first we need to understand how New Year’s came to land on January 1^st for those of us who acknowledge the 365 day a year cycle.  According to Gary Ryan Blair, an author for EZine articles, the tradition of a New Year’s resolution dates back to 153 B.C. in Rome. January 1^st became the start of the new year in 46 B.C. after Julius Caeser developed a calendar that would reflect the seasons more accurately than others before it.

The Romans are best known for their belief in Gods and forces that shaped the world around them.  Why should the concept of a New Year’s resolution be any different?  Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings, had two faces, one to look into the past, while the other looked into the future. Here is where the idea of making a New Year’s resolution was born.  Fueled by their superstitious beliefs the Romans began to offer one another boughs from sacred trees, as to wish good fortune for the New Year.  Today we offer a kiss, or a hug, a sign of affection towards the New Year at midnight on December 31^st.  Janus was able to look back into the past, and also acknowledge the future, therefore it is only natural that the Romans named the month of January after him.

New Year's Resolution

Wikipedia compares the idea of a New Year’s resolution to religious parallels such as Rosh Hashanah and Lent.  However after checking with my Facebook friends, I realized even my little brother is interested in the topic.  For some a New Year’s resolution means to not be so shy, while others (ahem Zoila) wish to be more aggressive in life.  Than there are those who wish to take the pledge of better health, to work out, stop smoking, eat right and more.  While for some I wonder if they will simply find the happiness that they seek.

A New Year’s resolution is all about an individual’s ability to look inside themselves, admit what they knew they should not have done, and acknowledge what they could do in the future to avoid making a similar mistake.  Pledging to make a New Year’s resolution requires perseverance, strong will and in some cases a courageous heart.

What the heck does someone need a courageous heart for when it comes to a New Year’s resolution?  Well originally my first 2012 New Year’s resolution of moving out to California and working in the freelance industry of the television/film world required exactly that.  However, if you’re a reader of the BQB than you have noticed that my writing has dropped off over the last month or so.  Back in October I became ill and finally went to the doctor, turns out I may have Crohn’s disease.  Dreams of moving out to California, have been squashed for the upcoming year as I realized health benefits will be my main concern until I have all of this figured out.  Trust me, it was the last thing in the world I saw coming, however I hit the ground running, refusing to give up on my dreams.  Than again who ever nailed their first script/novel/work on the head without having to do a few rewrites?  I look at this as a time to relook, revise and revamp my life, and besides everyone knows if you can make it in New York City than you can make it anywhere!

When the ball drops in Times Square on December 31, 2011 and brings us into January 1, 2012 I know the world is going to be a better place.  Never before have I looked forward to a new year more than this one.  With my New Year’s resolution comes many doors that will finally close, many chapters that can finally end, and another story that shall begin.

The BQB has opened my eyes to ideals and beliefs that I would never have otherwise considered.  Let’s be honest, I, Holly Robin Clark, am completely and utterly all over the place in life.  However this inert drive for helping people, making a difference in this world and brightening up the room, has never changed.  New Year’s is a time for second chances, a period of forgiveness upon which I can reflect and admit all the things I have done wrong in the last year that I wish to make right in the future.  Somewhere, somehow I was blessed with a talent to communicate through the written word, if I don’t do it, than what the heck do I have it for?

Whatever your New Year’s resolution is this year, make sure you do one thing; find happiness.  Its like my friend Salvina said, everyday offers us a chance to turn it around.

All the other sites have ways to achieve your New Year’s resolution, whether it be financially, emotionally, mentally or physically, just make sure your happy and I guarantee you get that goal!