Welcome back everyone! How was your break? Did you eat and drink too much? Did you get some much-needed rest? How’s your New Year’s resolution coming?

Oh yeah, resolutions. By this point in January, many people have already abandoned their hope for a new start. All of the promises to exercise, eat right and learn French are lying broken and battered next to the fully functioning fast food, sleeping in and watching TV. Americans are not well known for being motivated, but wouldn’t you think that someone would keep up his or her resolution at least until St. Patrick’s Day?

The problem I see with the theory of resolutions is that we try to change our inner core of self instead of little habits that lead to a poor lifestyle. New Year’s resolutions are not followed because they are too broad. Last year I decided to exercise, eat right, read more, and stop sleeping in. By the time break was over, I had lost five pounds and the will to live.

Instead of giving up my very breath, I gave up my new healthy lifestyle. A good decision, no? I tried to take on too much last year. I simply could not happily adjust to being another person. I do not like waking up early, or vigorously exercising, or eating only salad. My fault was that I took on too much.

One cannot change who she is just because she promised herself she would. I will never run a marathon or finish reading the Oxford English Dictionary, but I am taking the bus or walking more often, I’m almost finished reading “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck, and I finally talked to a guy I have found intriguing.

Why did I manage to improve my life this time but never could before? I worked with my own personality to find an area of myself I could improve, not change.

I love to read, so I chose to read something outside of my general selection. I do enjoy seeing my fair city, so I decided to walk and bus it. I enjoy men and realized I have nothing to lose, so I decided to talk to the guy. I used parts of my personality to help me out in my decisions to better myself.

I will most likely never again run three miles a day; I may not ever finish writing my book. These are things I would like to do, but I don’t push it or give myself unrealistic goals.

I am OK with who I am, and you should be okay with yourself too. Sure, we all have areas that we want to improve, but if I see one more person who is crushed by failing at a resolution, I may scream. You are human and you are putting too much on yourself.

Think about it this way: you are in college, you most likely have a job and you read the UWM Post. You are doing pretty well for yourself already. Don’t get down on yourself. You are awesome.

Next time just choose a more reasonable New Year’s resolution.

> Comments