New Years Resolutions!

[Irish Insanity]

This concept baffles me. If there's some shit that you really should do in October, why wait until January 1 to get cracking? The idea of resolutions seems to imply that you've been "doing it wrong" for however long prior.

I'm a buyer in this theory to a point. But things like the 500 miles of running or complete a marathon and such I see as a goal to accomplish that year and understand it

 

[IrishLax]

This concept baffles me. If there's some shit that you really should do in October, why wait until January 1 to get cracking? The idea of resolutions seems to imply that you've been "doing it wrong" for however long prior.

Your propensity to try to shit on everything is incredibly tiresome. I don't know what it stems from... a desire to appear contrarian? A deep-seeded hipster mindset? A generally unpleasant personality?

Taking half a second to consider the anthropological rationale behind "new year's resolutions" belies why it's anything but baffling.

Like many traditions, it has its roots centuries in the past and is linked to many Western religions (as well as secular practices). A quick Google search will give you specifics I'm sure, but I'll explain one angle here.

Jews and Christians both believe in a period of reflection and atonement at the end of the year. You're supposed to take inventory of what you've done wrong in the past year or could do better. And then following the period of reflection, it's incredibly logical that one would resolve to not make the same mistakes or "do better" the next year.

In secular society now, this has boiled down people taking inventory of what they've accomplished (or failed to accomplish) in the past year... and then setting goals for what they'd like to accomplish in the next. It's not like people are saying "oh well I've had cancer for 5 months but I'm just now going to resolve to do something about it!" ... no, it's people reflecting on the past year and maybe saying "man, I gained 15 pounds since last year... I'm going to do something about it." Or, in gk's example, saying "I really want to have this screenplay finished by 2016." Or, in my example, saying "I've been running a lot since my knee got fixed up in the fall... and now I got a fancy Garmin watch for Christmas that can track all my runs and upload automatically... I think it'd be cool to run 500 miles next year, so I'll set that goal."

Hope that helps explain the "baffling" tradition that no one else on this planet is baffled by.

 

[wizards8507]

I'll add "hipster" to the list of nonsense things I've been called on this board. I must be the first right-wing hipster redneck yuppie preppy anarchist in history.

The rest of your post was very informative. Not sure why the snarky introduction was necessary.

 

[dshans]

Hope that helps explain the "baffling" tradition that no one else on this planet is baffled by.

I thank you for taking time and effort.

In my case I'd be happy to walk 500 (much less 1000) miles this coming year. I'd also like to GAIN 15 pounds. I'm not writing a screenplay, or any sort of play, so I have no hard-core opinion on that. My one, simple, resolution is to "Keep Truckin', Like the Doo-Dah Man."

January first seems to me to be as good as any date to annunciate goals and desires.

 

[Jackalope1977]

After you hit say 30 years old you find that maybe you start gaining weight you thought you'd never gain. When that happens you are not happy with that and you vow to put that in check.... But after the holidays. There's way too much good shit to eat during the holidays.

 

[Irish YJ]

Unbaffled by wiki

Religious origins

The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.

The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

In the Medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

At watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.

There are other religious parallels to this tradition. During Judaism's New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one's wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. People may act similarly during the Catholic fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility, in fact the practice of New Year's resolutions partially came from the Lenten sacrifices. The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.

Participation

At the end of the Great Depression, about a quarter of American adults formed New Year's resolutions. At the start of the 21st century, about 40% did.


Success rate

A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success at the beginning. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as, a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.

It is also noted that talking with a counselor about setting goals and new year resolutions can help people keep their resolutions.

 

[Cackalacky]

Read my Time Life Series: Civil War books I got for Christmas.
Make time to prepare for the PE exam.
Be a better person than I was the day before.

 

[BGIF]

Take another trip around the sun.

 

[dshans]

Be a better person than I was the day before.

That is all.

 

[ickythump1225]

1. Run at least 1500 miles
2. Complete at least 4 half-marathons
3. Finish my Bachelor's Degree
4. Skydive
5. At least start to learn a new language (German or French)
6. Visit at least 3 new states

 

[Irish YJ]

1. Run at least 1500 miles
2. Complete at least 4 half-marathons
3. Finish my Bachelor's Degree
4. Skydive
5. At least start to learn a new language (German or French)
6. Visit at least 3 new states

Forgot that one. Taking a trip to the farm in late April. Not really a resolution but have wanted to do it for 20 years

Skydive the Farm - STF

 

[ickythump1225]

Your propensity to try to shit on everything is incredibly tiresome. I don't know what it stems from... a desire to appear contrarian? A deep-seeded hipster mindset? A generally unpleasant personality?

Taking half a second to consider the anthropological rationale behind "new year's resolutions" belies why it's anything but baffling.

Like many traditions, it has its roots centuries in the past and is linked to many Western religions (as well as secular practices). A quick Google search will give you specifics I'm sure, but I'll explain one angle here.

Jews and Christians both believe in a period of reflection and atonement at the end of the year. You're supposed to take inventory of what you've done wrong in the past year or could do better. And then following the period of reflection, it's incredibly logical that one would resolve to not make the same mistakes or "do better" the next year.

In secular society now, this has boiled down people taking inventory of what they've accomplished (or failed to accomplish) in the past year... and then setting goals for what they'd like to accomplish in the next. It's not like people are saying "oh well I've had cancer for 5 months but I'm just now going to resolve to do something about it!" ... no, it's people reflecting on the past year and maybe saying "man, I gained 15 pounds since last year... I'm going to do something about it." Or, in gk's example, saying "I really want to have this screenplay finished by 2016." Or, in my example, saying "I've been running a lot since my knee got fixed up in the fall... and now I got a fancy Garmin watch for Christmas that can track all my runs and upload automatically... I think it'd be cool to run 500 miles next year, so I'll set that goal."

Hope that helps explain the "baffling" tradition that no one else on this planet is baffled by.

I'll add "hipster" to the list of nonsense things I've been called on this board. I must be the first right-wing hipster redneck yuppie preppy anarchist in history.

The rest of your post was very informative. Not sure why the snarky introduction was necessary.

Of course you don't. You really think the rest of the world is the problem don't you?

 

[dshans]

Take another trip around the sun.

First Class? Coach? Steerage?



No matter.



It's the journey, not the destination.





Right?

 

[IrishJayhawk]

" Or, in my example, saying "I've been running a lot since my knee got fixed up in the fall... and now I got a fancy Garmin watch for Christmas that can track all my runs and upload automatically... I think it'd be cool to run 500 miles next year, so I'll set that goal."

I actually just got a Garmin watch as well. Forerunner 220 w/ GPS and HR Monitor. Have you used it yet? I'm really liking mine so far.

 

[MPClinton22]

Super cliche but my main one is to continue my quest to get to the healthy weight I want to be at. I've made it about 70 pounds, want to finish up these last 25 strong while also improving overall body composition. Holidays set me back a bit but that was to be expected I think!

Oh and I want to run a half marathon and then maybe a marathon. Depends on how I feel after the half haha.

 

[DonnieNarco]

1) Read more novels
2) Write 5 times a week