Happy New Years!

New Years is all about looking at the past year, and making an effort to improve yourself as the year begins. Noise-making and fireworks on New Year's eve is believed to have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck. The Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the streets while they launch fireworks. In Wales, the back door is opened and then shut to let go of the previous year and lock out all of its bad luck. Later, the front door is opened and the new year is welcomed in with all of its promising possibilities.

Setting New Years resolutions began thousands of years ago in Rome. These resolutions were centered around morals, -to be good to others.Thousands of years later, the Puritans urged their children to reflect on the past year and to contemplate. To recollect past mistakes and resolve to improve oneself in the new year.

 I have compiled a list of common New Years resolutions as of 2013. Starting with the most popular:

1. To Lose Weight
2. To Get Organized, Manage Time
3. Spend Less, Save More, Get Out of Debt, Get a Better Job
4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest, Reduce Stress, Be Less Grumpy, Be More Independent
5. Staying Fit and Healthy, Exercise More, Eat Better
6. Learn Something Exciting, Improve Grades, Get a Better Education, Study More Often
7. Quit Smoking, Drink Less Alcohol
8. Help Others in Their Dreams, Volunteer To Help Others, Give To Charity
9. Fall In Love
10. Spend More Time With Family
11. Stop Biting Nails
12. Take a Trip
13. Get Along Better With People, Make New Friends

I have done my research and concrete resolutions are more likely to come into fruition than abstract resolutions. Furthermore, sharing your resolutions with other people and getting support from friends and family further increases your chances of success. Finally, it helps to setup a system in which small goals are set that weave into a bigger web of bigger goals.

An idea I have come to ponder on is the transition of why it is we set goals. In current times these goals are mostly image-based. But I think it is important to introduce the idea of moral-based goals. Helping Others in Their Dreams, Get Along Better With People, Make New Friends, I think these are important goals as well. You never know, your quality of life might increase if you make it a point to smile at at least one person a day.