Summary

The article reflects on the tradition of making New Year's resolutions, suggesting that the enthusiasm for new goals often fades quickly, advocating instead for building on the previous year's efforts for sustained growth.

Abstract

As the new year dawns, the author observes a neighbor engrossed in writing new year's resolutions, which include quitting smoking, reducing drinking, eating healthily, exercising, and learning the violin. The author humorously recounts the neighbor's past failed attempt at learning the piano, which disrupted the author's afternoon naps. The article argues that the "new energy" felt at the beginning of the year is often a delusion, leading to abandoned resolutions. It suggests that true strength and improvement come from consistency and tenacity, rather than starting anew each year. The author encourages readers to view the new year as a continuation of their previous year's work, aiming for long-term progress rather than short-lived results.

Opinions

The author seems skeptical about the effectiveness of New Year's resolutions, implying that they are often discarded before reaching the halfway point of the year.
There is a humorous tone in the author's reaction to the neighbor's past attempt at learning the piano, indicating a personal impact of the neighbor's endeavors.
The author believes that the mental shift occurring at the beginning of the year, which prompts people to pursue new goals, is misguided and not conducive to real change.
Consistency and tenacity are emphasized as key to achieving personal growth and success, rather than relying on the "new year, new me" mindset.
The article encourages a pragmatic approach to self-improvement, suggesting that building on existing efforts is more effective than starting from scratch each year.

Beyond Resolutions: The New Year Feeling

As the year flowers with a new beginning, tiny fragments of ice and snow from winter still lurks in the sky.

People huddled up in the comfort of their own homes, enjoying the start of a new month, getting together with family, and — most importantly — making plans for the next twelve months.

From the balcony, I could see my neighbor scribbling and murmuring something to herself.

I watched with great interest to see what in the world was keeping her so absorbed. Alas! It was a long list of resolutions for the new year:

Quit up smoking.

Cut drinking habits

Eat healthy meals

Exercise more frequently

Learn the violin.

What!

The violin?

Creep! She banged her windows and screamed.

Okay, so perhaps I am.

She took piano lessons for, I think, less than three months.

How could I have forgotten?

My afternoon naps were traumatized beyond healing.

I should be inspired…No thanks

From observing several people, I can say for sure that there’s a mental shift that occurs during this season. A lot of people with new goals, new ambitions, aspirations, ideas for jobs, and skill.

That skill you started working on in the middle of the year — what happened to it?

We delude ourselves into feeling some kind of “new energy” as the year begins. We feel the need to embark on a new journey; abandon the old.

My neighbor most likely got so bored with her piano lessons that she tried to harness the enthusiasm of a new year to start something fresh.

It doesn’t work that way.

At the end of it, the results are short lived.

We would have tested a whole lot for the every new year, and eventually abandoning them before the midway mark.

So, envision the current year as an improved continuation of the prior year’s work.

Building strength only through consistency and tenacity.

Happy New Year