I resolve to ...

In today's connected world, a flood of well wishes and celebratory images reaches our social media inboxes starting late in the evening on the 30th of December, when those ahead of our EST strike up the band and set off fireworks to signal the beginning of another new year mere hours before us. Amidst the songs, salutations, libations, and revelry, the curious custom of resolutions comes forefront of the conversation as millions reflect on the 12 months past, and publicly (but more likely privately) avow to make desired changes. For some, leaving 2022 behind will bring welcomed relief, "turning over a new leaf" as the old adage goes, but for others there will be the looming spectre of the unknown, not the least of which is the pressure of an impending recession. Either way, the resolutions brought to bear are a personal choice.

But where did this tradition come from?

According the History.com, the ancient Babylonians (from Bablyonia in ancient Mesopotamia, now know as Iraq) are reputed to be the first to make New Year’s resolutions approximately 4,000 years ago. As an agrarian (agriculturally based) society the year began in mid-March when the crops were planted. Celebrating Akitu, a massive 12-day religious festival, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. Akitu also featured promises to their gods to pay their debts and return objects they had borrowed, considered by scholars as the forerunners of our present-day resolutions, in hopes that their gods would bestow favour on them for the coming year if they kept their word. Breaking their promise resulted in potentially falling out of the gods’ favour, misfortune the cost.

Okay ... so why the change to January 1st?

We can thank ancient Rome for the move away from an agrarian focus, when the reform-focused emperor Julius Caesar established January 1st as the beginning of the new year, circa 46 B.C., establishing what we now call the Julian calendar. Named for Janus, the two-faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, January had special significance for the Romans, believing the god looked simultaneously backwards into the previous year and ahead into the coming year. Romans offered sacrifices to the deity and made promises of good conduct for the coming year. 

Interesting factoid: Caesar's Julian calendar incorrectly calculated the solar year, making an error of 11 minutes, prompting Pope Gregory XIII to establish his own Gregorian calendar to ensure that the calendar stayed in sync with the lunar and solar equinoxes for centuries to come. According to Almanac.com, if you think about the seasons, the timing of early January works for most of Europe and North America since the active harvest has passed and the holiday celebrations have ended. At present, there are only 4 countries that do not officially follow the Gregorian calendar; Afghanistan and Iran (which use the Solar Hijri calendar), Ethiopia (the Ethiopian calendar), and Nepal (Vikram Samvat and Nepal Sambat)

Got it ... Most set resolutions on January 1st. How many keep them?

Thanks to wikipedia.com , a 2014 report claimed 35% of participants who failed their New Year's Resolutions admitted they had unrealistic goals, 33% did not keep track of their progress, and 23% forgot about them. About 1 in 10 respondents claimed they made too many resolutions. A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of New Year resolutions fail, despite 52% being confident of success at the beginning. Wiseman reported that men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, their resolutions made in terms of small, measurable goals like "lose a pound a week" rather than "lose weight". 

Hmm ... not at all sure why he needed to discern between the sexes?

Furthermore, insideoutmastery.com reports that 38.5% of adults set New Year’s resolutions every year, with 59% of them being young adults (18-34) making it the largest demographic that sets these goals.

Of the top 3 resolutions, all health-related, the most popular at 48% was to exercise more, with eating properly and losing weight rounding out the podium. Unfortunately, 23% quit in the first week, and only 36% make it past the first month, with a lowly 9% successfully keep their New Year’s resolutions.

All of which begs the question, will you be making any New Year's resolutions loop around the sun? 

Mine will be easy peasy since they continue what I've already made into habit:

(a) Stay in shape ... Translation: Ride my bike a lot!

(b) Live a loving, active life ... Translation: Enjoy loads of beach walks with my bestie!

(c) Always look on the bright side of life ... Translation: Keep up the retirement thing!

From Joyce and I, a very Happy New Year to all!