You say you want a resolution?
By Leanne NakamuraA resolution is a goal you set for yourself, a standard you live by day after day. What difference does it make whether you do it in the beginning of the year, or in June, or in August? There's no point in making a resolution in January that you forget about in February, and yet we still follow the New Year's tradition!
Most people can't live up to their resolutions, partly because those resolutions always involve things they hate to do.
Ever since I can remember, I've felt I had to make a resolution, and it was always to either "study harder" or "keep my room clean." That way everyone would be proud of me for doing something that lived up to their idea of perfection.
Every year I made resolutions that somehow involved making others happy. Only a few years ago I realized that one reason I never succeeded in carrying out my resolutions was because I didn't want to do it for myself.
A majority of people make a resolution to lose weight. But who wants to give up candy, chocolate, cakes and all those other wonderful desserts that just happen to fill the house this time of year? People who make the resolution to give up treats probably eye everything available, thinking, "Just one last time!" and then end up pigging out. They're set to fail from the start.
SOME of us put a lot of thought into resolutions. Others just do it because it's just a tradition. Some end up not making any at all.
In this month's issue of Teen magazine, there's a list of rules on resolutions. One is to write your resolution down, because that would help you "remember it."
I write many things down, but I'm still, probably, one of the most forgetful people alive. If I wrote a resolution on a pretty sheet of paper, stuck it on my wall and looked at it every day, I'd either get irritated or end up ignoring it after awhile.
I'm not saying it's impossible to follow through on challenging resolutions. I'm just saying that it's very unlikely you'll live up to them unless you're the most driven and controlled person in the world.
My suggestion this year is to make a break from the traditional painful resolutions and, instead, come up with a list of things you don't mind doing. For example, instead of the usual, "I'm going to lose 15 pounds," how about vowing to love yourself and take care of yourself?
IF you think this way, some of the Teen magazine's other suggestions make sense. The editors tell readers to go easy on themselves in these ways:
Think inner enhancement. That is, instead of focusing on what's wrong with you, focus on what's right and improve on it. Vow to read more books, sign up for one class you might not normally take, for a different experience.
The magazine also reminds us of that old cliche, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."
Of these suggestions, I like the idea of inner enhancement the best. I know I could be nicer to others. I'll even try harder to put up with those who irritate me.
Life is short. We could try to make it as enjoyable for ourselves as those around us.
Leanne Nakamura is a sophomore at Castle High School. Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature
allowing those 12 to 22 to serve up fresh perspectives.
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