New Year’s Eve centers on parties, glitz and glitter, but everyone knows the day afterward is a little less glamorous. New Year’s day offers a fresh start, a new perspective and the perfect time to set your New Year’s resolutions. But what happens when your New Year’s resolutions aren’t ‘new’ at all?
It’s way too easy to fall into the resolution slump: spend less, eat healthier, lose weight, etc. I mean, is it just me, or has the gym been a lot more crowded since January 1? Don’t get me wrong, I applaud anyone who’s ready to make a great change. But I’m weary of the same run-of-the-mill resolutions year after year that get abandoned by the time February rolls around.
I must’ve seen this Weight Watchers commercial hundreds of times over break. Jennifer Hudson is proof that if you stick to a resolution, you will achieve it. She totally must feel amazing, but I have some suggestions that will make you you feel just as great without counting calories!
I’m a big believer in karma, and I’m always trying to boost mine through giving back or helping others. So why not use 2012 as a ‘karmic’ clean slate, where you can do good for others, and receive great energy in return? I know not everyone is a firm believer in karma, but no one can deny that when you do something kind for someone else, you feel both happier and better about yourself. This is called the ‘do good, feel good’ phenomenon, and yes, it is a real thing (we learned about it in my intro to psych class)!
Even though the last few weeks of 2011 were a blast, I can’t help but feel a bit guilty about them. I mean, I may have forgotten to be thankful for all the people in my life that I love, not just the cashmere sweaters and Prada perfume I received from them on December 25. It seems simple, but a great resolution is simply to say ‘thank you’ more often. You can start now by taking a few minutes to think about the people in your life who have made a difference. Maybe it’s your parents, who supported your dreams and aspirations to attend Wake. Maybe it’s your best friend, who can make you laugh until your stomach hurts, even on your worst day. Maybe it’s a teacher who wrote you an awesome rec that helped secure your dream internship. No matter who it is, take time to thank them. The power of words is strong, and uttering these two little ones has the potential to make some one’s entire week brighter.
Maybe I should have focused more on who was gathered around the tree, instead of what boxes were under it!
Here are a few more helpful ideas on how to give back and put fate in your favor. Hey collegiettes™, if you’ve already made your own separate resolution, that’s great! But there’s no reason you can’t add one of these to it. I promise good vibes will be sent your way!
1. Take 5 deep breaths before exploding at your roommate, boyfriend or whomever is getting on your nerves.
2. Call home at least once a week.
3. Donate some clothes that you no longer wear … or that no longer fit.
4. Meet with your professors, not just to discuss assignments, but also to get to know them as real people.
5. Try your best to look at the glass half-full instead of half-empty (it’s been proven that optimists live longer than pessimists!).
I put this wall decal and poster up above my bed before I left for winter break. I’m hoping in 2012 I can live by the motto ‘wish it, dream it, do it’ and follow the Dalai Llama’s tips to handle things with a bit more of a ‘zen’ approach.
Collegiettes™, I’ll be honest, there are definitely some moments I wish I could erase from 2011. Most of them involve losing my temper or making a stupid, selfish decision. Though it may be impossible to undo the past, we can control our futures. Set 2012 off on the right foot by making the resolution to give back, treat others the way you want to be treated and as the Beach Boy’s say, pick up some “good vibrations!”