A global and superficial phenomenon
I’m certain we have all heard people say, “new year, new me”. We make a list of goals to achieve in the new year: I’m going to be fitter, more productive, save more money, spend more time in God’s presence. These are some common new year resolutions.
However, by the end of the first week, most of us are already feeling defeated when we are unable to accomplish the goals. And that’s it. We dwindle in apathy and continue indulging in the very habits we wanted to change from last year.
We wait 358 days to try again.
And maybe we’ll have better luck next year.
The same but different
This year began the same way every other year did. I set some goals for this year and had some dreams for this year. Goals I expected to achieve and dreams I thought would solidify.
I’m sure at the beginning of the year no one would have expected a virus to change and uproot the whole world. We all thought the virus was far away and wouldn’t affect us.
We continued with our calendars and social gatherings.
Then suddenly we were in lockdown, all travel plans abandoned, all social gatherings cancelled, and even treats of takeaways were not allowed.
“When?”
I’m sure that was a question we have asked ourselves and others multiple times.
We were all on survival mode and achieving our new year resolutions was not at the forefront of our minds, let alone on the to-do list.
The wave no one was ready for
As the alert levels eased, I again had made plans for the rest of the year. But also plans for day trips and meeting up with friends I hadn’t seen for six months during my week off work.
How coincidentally that was the week the second halt arrived. I was knocked back and like many others lacked purpose and motivation.
These are some questions I asked myself.
What is there to look forward to?
How many more times will we be ‘locked down’?
Why should I make plans and why should I set any more goals for this year?
I didn’t want to bear the feeling of being unaccomplished again.
Making this moment count!
Yes, I want to look back on 2020 and see it not wasted. I want to say on the 1st of January 2021 that COVID-19 did not set me back. I want to be certain I was living to the fullest and not letting the unachieved define me.
The concept of ‘new year, new me’ suggests a disconnect from the person you were, a dismissal of the past. The problem is placing an emphasis on something so abstract and not completely in our control. It is like making an aimless wish.
Likewise making new year resolutions heightens our expectations for the year, our vision of who we want to be and what we want to accomplish. It paints such a big picture that we think we can’t make new goals to adjust it.
So instead of feeling lost and guilty in the failures, let’s ask God to “Remind me of your love and grace.” And hold onto Jesus and everything he brings.
Instead of making new year resolutions at the beginning of the year, let’s ask God, “What do you want me to do?” At the beginning of each day and every decision during the day.
And instead of proudly declaring ‘new year, new me’, let’s ask God for a “New year, new knee.” A new knee to continue bowing and kneeling before him every moment, and to rightfully enthrone him in our hearts and minds.
Let us not wait until 2021 to start. Let us ask God right now.
Stephanie enjoys simple living, admiring nature’s beauty and intricacy, and playing the piano. She is particularly passionate about empowering the vulnerable. Writing is her way of processing thoughts and feelings to understand herself, God and the world in a deeper and more meaningful way.