Wednesday Wonder – January 3, 2024
New Year New You
That line seems to be everywhere these days. Everyone is using it to try to get people to join the gym, the weight loss program, or whatever. I even used it on our outdoor sign this week! But what does this mean to you?
Why is it always on January 1st that we think because it is a new calendar year we need to make changes? Research has proven that most people who make new year’s resolutions give up on them by February. Yet we always point out it is a new year so people should make life changes. Honestly, back when I had a child in school, September always seemed like a better time to make changes, especially those that might impact family schedules. Starting back into the fall routine seemed the right time to try to start new habits.
But every January 1st, the tag line ‘New Year New You’ gets rolled out again. As I reflected on my past year, I wondered what new me was supposed to be created in 2024. I had several significant life changes this past year so making changes happened whether I liked it or not; whether I wanted it or not. So, what changes am I supposed to make in this new year?
Perhaps you are feeling as I do. You may have had to make changes recently; ones that were desired, or not. Are you feeling the pressure to make more changes that accompanies the fireworks at midnight?
Several weeks ago, I talked about resolutions and intentions for a new year. I talked about reflecting on the year gone by and how that is a healthy thing to do. You may be wondering why I am talking about it again. Then, it was more about reflection on what had gone by and how I hoped things might be different in a new year. Now that it is a new year, the results of that reflection feel like they have to become a reality. When everyone starts talking about the new you for 2024 it seems to diminish the positives we may have felt at the end of last year. After feeling like even just surviving all that happened in 2023 was an accomplishment, here we are feeling like we have to do more!
Sure, there is always something to learn or a way to grow. But why do we have to feel forced to start it, right now! This year, I am not going to be pressured into starting a new habit right away. This year, I am not going to assume there is some major change I need to make to improve myself. This year, I am going to respond to the need for growth or learning, or whatever, as it arises.
I set a lovely set of intentions before 2023 began. While some of them happened, life certainly kept me from focusing on them at times. By the second week of January, my life had drastically changed and just responding to that change meant not focusing on doing things on my list of intentions. And that is okay. We can’t always plan on what life is going to throw us. We can only allow ourselves the time to catch it, or learn to catch it and then hold it, or not. This year, that is what I hope to do.
In the end, I hope that even what may have appeared a negative from 2023 was a learning experience that has made me wiser, stronger, more hopeful. I will take that into 2024. My only expectation of myself will be to continue to be wiser, stronger and more hopeful, because I came through the last year and I will do the same this year.
Sure, I still plan to try losing weight (it is always on the list whether I call them resolutions or intentions), but this year I am doing it so I have more energy to play with a certain grandson. And I still want to spend more time reading and writing among other things. But, there is no pressure to create a new me for this new year. I have a feeling the new year will create a new me by the end. And I hope you will all join me on the ride that will be the journey of 2024.
Peace,
Rev. Mary-Jane