Reports have it that New Year’s was first celebrated in ancient Babylon some 4,000 years ago.
Historians have determined that the ancient Babylonians celebrated the start of the new year in late March with the arrival of spring.
In 153 B.C., the Romans Senate is reported to have changed New Year’s celebrations to January, which gets its name from Janus, the ancient, two-faced god whom the Romans imagined could look forward and backward at the same time. Janus was also the patron and protector of arches, gates, doors, beginnings and endings.
The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is said to have began during the reign of Julius Ceasar (B.C. 49 to B.C. 44). Over time, New Year’s resolutions have changed from being of a moral nature, like being kind to others, to the promises we now make to ourselves to stop eating sugar, watch less TV and quit smoking.
When I was younger, I too joined the throngs of January exercisers, chocolate avoiders and money savers. I bit my tongue when someone was blatantly rude (or said a trite “sorry”) in an effort to keep my resolution to be nicer.
Like most people, my resolutions didn’t last long – I think the middle of February was my record for not eating sweets and running three times a week. For the past five or so years, I have opted out of making resolutions, knowing my willpower is too weak to be a real catalyst for change.
It may seem pessimistic, but most years I now sit back and watch other people fail at their resolutions. I do try to comfort them when they get down on themselves and give up, but that has been my biggest contribution for the past five or so years.
Having said that, I am all for change and self improvement. For the past year and a half, I have done a fairly decent job giving up wheat and yeast products. Admittedly, I do break down and have a sandwich or a piece of toast once in a while, but bread is no longer my staple.
Over the past few years, I have also developed a habit of exercising. No, I’m not a hard-core, gym-addicted fanatic, but I do generally move my body several times each week, and feel much better for it.
As I age, I have also begun to view life differently – putting a lot more value on family and the people I love. When I look at who I have become, I am proud of these changes, all of which were made gradually.
Consistent, methodical change is what seems to work best for me, rather than the life-altering commitments I used to make at New Year’s.
Having said that, I don’t begrudge others their New Year’s resolutions. In fact, I am among the first to celebrate the good decisions and healthy choices people make in their lives. I think reflection and goal setting is valuable any time of the year.
That reflection has made me realize how prone I am to look at others and suggest changes. For example, my daughter should clean her room more often and my friend has just got to make that tough decision about what she wants to do with her life.
I may not tell those I love they should change (except my daughter, telling her to tidy is a weekly occurrence), but I think it.
Despite the human tendency towards judging others, I have realized the only real control and power for change I have is over myself.
It sounds trite, but I have recently realized that a change in my attitude and behaviour is the only thing I have control over. So while I am not making a generalized promise to be nice to others or smile at strangers, over the next few weeks, I hope to spend time in quiet contemplation, looking at whether my habits and thought patterns are healthy.
I don’t promise to never have a negative thought again, but I will try to more often face those thoughts with gratitude. It’s not a resolution. It’s a gradual attitude shift - one that I realize is necessary in my own life - towards gratitude for everything I have - will make 2013 the best year yet.
