What’s Your New Years Resolution!? Really??!!

Written by: Daniels Psychotherapy

01/01/2025

“Happy New Year!” primarily means two things this year:

1. It is 2025

2. It’s time to buckle down and get those New Years resolutions done, this year for real!

Upon reflecting on the year just passed, I found myself going through all the options of the New Years resolutions I should make for the year ahead. We have all heard the kind, “go out to eat less,” which is inevitably followed by “cook more at home.” Then, there are the other common ones, “read more books,” “lose a couple of pounds,” “watch less TV,” “read more books,” “save more,” and “learn Italian.”

I finally decided to do the sensible thing and ask Google. Why didn’t I think of this earlier? I typed in: “Should I make a New Year’s Resolution?”

When the result popped up I wanted to exclaim, “Ha! I knew it!” But instead, I sat quietly as I read the results. It didn’t seem appropriate to exclaim anything as it would feel too much like cheering for failure.

Yes, I said it, FAILURE!

The results are probably exactly what you expect, 99% of resolutions don’t make it the year.

In fact, “just under 1 in 10 people (8%) said their resolutions lasted a month, 21.9% reported two months, 22.2% reported three months and 13.1% said their resolutions lasted four months. Only 1% said they lasted for 11 or 12 months.”

These are the statistics published on cbsnews.com by Sara Moniuszko on December 31, 2024. It seemed pretty bleak.

Next, was a link to an article in the Harvard Business Review titled, Should You Even Bother with New Year’s Resolutions This Year? by Elizabeth Grace Saunders.

I didn’t read the article; I closed the tab. I saw all I needed to see - I was not the only one thinking these thoughts, but then I never am. There are always other people who share how I think or feel about something, even if sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, I am never alone in my experience of being human.

I closed the browser, shut the laptop, and stood up to leave so we could make our dinner reservation on time, even though we plan to cook at home more. And then it hit me. My resolution for 2025!

Remember not to forget! That’s it! That’s my resolution. Not to forget that I am never alone in my experience of being human. Not just with the people I share the planet with now but every human who ever lived. Hundreds of millions do or have shared the same shortcomings I resist against without always succeeding. Billions have failed every failure that has ever hurt me, felt every kernel of sadness or inadequacy I have ever felt. Every human including all our personal heroes no matter who you are.

Based on the commonly accepted notion that modern humans have existed for around 200,000 years, countless people have, like myself, have also felt the rush of success, the flame of love, the excitement of victory, the serenity of recovery and then had to start over again getting it all back during those “this too shall pass” periods … and a special thanks to them for never giving up.

Finally, my confidence is through the roof that I found a New Year’s Resolution I can keep active for the whole year and the best part is, I think anyone who wants to can keep it too.

With five hours and 45 seconds to go ‘till midnight - it’s official: My New Year’s Resolution for 2025: Remember not to forget; it’s me and everyone else. We are in this together. I am always in damn good company.