As the year draws to a close, we bid farewell with a burst of fireworks and joyful cheers. Let’s sing Auld Lang Syne, a timeless Scottish song written by Robert Burns in 1788. The coming year promises fresh hope and optimism.
The year ahead is an inviting landscape bursting with opportunities and hope, an enticing canvas awaiting our creativity. It consists. It consists of 12 vibrant chapters and 365 blank pages. Each of us has the opportunity to compose a captivating narrative for the year to come, weaving together a compelling beginning, a dynamic middle, and a fulfilling conclusion.
We can draw inspiration from the rich tapestry of life that is individually us with its array of pristine colours, textures, and shades that promise to be even more profound and striking than those of the previous year. Just as the seasons change and life unfolds, so do the events marked by the relentless passage of time, each moment offering us a chance to shape our story.
New Year’s resolutions are a popular tradition, with many of us vowing to make positive changes in our lives; while we may start strong, the reality is that most of us don’t keep to our resolutions. New Year’s resolutions have been around for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Babylon, when people promised the Gods to repay debts and return borrowed items.
As we turn the page to a new year, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirls within us, blending hopeful excitement with a touch of uncertainty about the mysteries that await. Each day brings its mysteries, challenges and uncertainty, but there is always a glimmer of hope.
We yearn for the new year to unfold with blessings of prosperity and moments filled with joy, believing there will be a chapter filled with opportunities and happiness waiting to be discovered.
Talking to elders about their ideology of New Year resolutions causes an uproar of laughter; Kate tells me that New Year resolutions are always made to be broken, from diets to saving more money and exercising more. With the best intentions, many New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside within the first few weeks.
Alan’s annual pledge to give up beer is no exception. Despite his determination, he succumbs to temptation and returns to his favourite tipple within weeks of making the promise.
Ray jokes about the swear box he sets up every New Year, claiming to put a dollar into the box with every swear word he says; he laughs and tells me by the end of year there is enough money to buy a wonderful gift for his wife, and so the tradition continues each year.
The tradition of making lighthearted New Year’s resolutions has become a cherished ritual that many look forward to as the year draws to a close. These resolutions often reflect our aspirations and goals for the upcoming year, ranging from personal growth to lifestyle changes.
However, it’s interesting to note that these promises are frequently made with a playful, tongue-in-cheek approach as if we acknowledge, albeit humorously, the likelihood that we might not fully complete them.
Despite this underlying awareness, the allure of setting these resolutions remains strong, and year after year, people enthusiastically engage in the practice, motivated by the hope of transforming aspirations into reality, even if they know deep down that sustaining them may be a challenge.
It’s a fascinating blend of optimism and realism that characterizes our annual commitment to self-improvement.
Helen Keller is quoted as saying ” Your success and happiness lie in you Resolve to keep happy and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties”.
This one made me smile at the thought of all the New Year resolutions I’ve made and never stuck to one. Great memories Michael.
My New Year resolution?
To keep reading Michael’s.stories.
An easy one to keep.
Lovely article Michael. A reminder that New Year’s resolutions should be fun and not make us feel bad if we don’t complete them. All the best for a wonderful 2025!