SONGSOPTOK
JANUARY
New Year’s Resolutions
SONGSOPTOK: New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. A large
percentage of people all over the world are thinking about making new
resolutions. Why do you think people make resolutions on New Year’s Day
specifically?
RIMI: Most people make resolutions as it has been a tradition for many
years. There is no evidence to suggest
that these resolutions last any longer than those made at other times of the
year. New Year’s Day and resolutions are
simply traditions that people enjoy maintaining as no penalty is imposed for
breaking them. These resolutions are made in good faith but no one is held
responsible should there be a digression.
SONGSOPTOK: Available
evidence shows that the origin of making new resolutions on New Year was
started long time back in Babylon – the Babylonians made promises to their
Gods. So did the Romans. In today’s society, resolutions are mostly promises we
make to ourselves. How do you explain this shift in paradigm?
RIMI: Ancient Babilonians and Romans took part in many rituals to appease the gods
including animal sacrifice . Even as little as hundred years back people were
more concerned with church and piety. Their resolutions reflected that. Today, our focus is mostly on self improvement.
8 out of 10 women in USA will say more excercise and diet control is their
number one goal . God, church or piety is still important to a section of
society but focus on self and specially physical self is all important today.
SONGSOPTOK: In your
opinion, is this custom religious or social? In the country or the society you
live in, is 1st January considered to be the beginning of the New Year? If not,
on which day does the New Year start? What are the specific customs, if any,
associated with your New Year?
RIMI: In the USA, 1st January
is considered to be the New Year.
However , I have also observed
Phillipino, Chinese or Korean New Year . All those cultures including
Indian culture celebrate New Year by buying new clothes, paying respect to ancestors and preparing
special foods.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you
believe in New Year’s Resolutions? Do you systematically make resolutions every
year? Are you going to do the same this year? Why?
RIMI: I used to believe in New Year’s resolutions. However, I have
noticed that the resolutions routinely falter after January 15th. The closet
stays cluttered, the junk jewellery, makeup is not sorted, the books stay half
finished and an odd shot of liquor still goes down the throat despite the most
well intentioned resolutions. Hence, the
zeal of resolution making has worn off.
SONGSOPTOK: What,
in your experience, are the types of New Year’s resolutions do people make?
What are yours?
RIMI: Nine out of ten people in the affluent Western hemisphere make
personal resolutions involving body weight and diet. Typical resolutions
involve running or walking every day, eating more salads and greens and
staying away from alcoholic or
carbonated sugary beverages. My
resolution is to read more books, find more spirituality in my daily life and
help people in need.
SONGSOPTOK: In case
you are a believer in these resolutions, can you share your experience with us?
Were you able to fulfill your resolutions? How did it make you feel?
RIMI: I can only speak for my
past resolutions. Most of them started with a bang only to fizzle out mid way
before spring. Resolutions typically start from a negative place. Guilt and
feelings of inadequacy and inability to live up to impossible standards robs me
of happiness and tranquility. It leads me to a mental place where i do not need
to be. I advise you to treat every New
Year’s resolution with a grain of salt.
SONGSOPTOK: Research
shows only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions. What, according
to you, are the reasons behind this low rate of success? What could be the
likely causes in your case?
RIMI: Low rate of
success is inherent in the very nature of the resolutions made. Most people try
to achieve the impossible in a very short span of time without any
preparations. Unrealistic goals are
doomed to failure not necessarily due to any shortcoming on the
part of the resolution maker. In my case the likely causes are much the same as
anyone else. Procrastination, laziness and lack of adequate will power dooms my
resolution. For example, it is much
easier to justify polishing off six squares of dark chocolate and skipping gym
than to go out and jog a mile come rain or shine.
SONGSOPTOK: In case
you were able to stick to one or more New Year’s resolutions, can you share
with us how you managed to do this? In the opposite case, why do you think you
were not able to attain your objectives? What, in your opinion, are some of the
better ways to make resolutions stick?
RIMI: High quality motivation is the primary reason that controls the
outcome of resolutions. People who resolve to change their behavior because
they truly want to improve areas of their daily life will most likely
succeed. In my opinion, it is best to start small. It is better to formulate a concrete
strategy. For example I would plan a heart healthy meal ahead of time, make a
shopping list and carve out a time to
cook a meal if I want to avoid high fat and high sodium take out meals. Working with support groups for gym workouts
is also a good way to achieve success. I also like to keep a log to hold myself
accountable for my resolutions.
SONGSOPTOK: Do you
believe in the feel good factor associated with making New Year Resolutions? Do
you personally feel pious come New Year’s Eve because of the resolutions you
made? Do you declare them publicly? If yes, then how did your family and
friends react to your resolutions?
RIMI: There is definitely a
feel good factor about New Year’s Eve resolutions. I do not feel pious because
my resolutions are personal. If I am able achieve peace and spiritually or help
meet my service goals they must be done in private. Oversharing on social media is not my
style. Family and friends can can be
both helpful and a hindrance.
SONGSOPTOK: There
are market segments that capitalize on New Year’s resolutions, such as health
clubs. Do you feel they have equal responsibilities in helping the pledgers to
fulfill their resolutions?
RIMI: I
do not believe they have a responsibility to assist people in fulfilling their
resolutions. The pledger has an individual responsibility to accomplish a
resolution. However, businesses should not take advantage of people’s desires
to improve. They should set more realistic expectations through their
advertising.
Rimi Pati has
lived and worked in South Carolina for the past two decades. She enjoys
creative writing and takes part in community theatre.
We sincerely thank you
for your time and hope to have your continued support.
Aparajita Sen
(EDITOR)
Songsoptok
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