Why do so many of us make New Year’s resolutions? Do they help? Are they a pain? Do they put pressure on us? Do they stress us out? Do they work? Do they give us something to look forward to?
The only resolution I made on New Year’s Day (which worked for me), was the one I made on January 1st 1994. It was the day I told myself to stop adding sugar to tea and coffee. I’m still ‘sugar-total’ when it comes to drinking tea and coffee. Success!
If you’ve made some New Year’s resolutions, then good luck with them. If, like me, you haven’t, grab the nearest calendar and count how many days there are on it.
Why am I asking you to count the days on a calendar? There’s a good reason.
Did you count 365 days? Yes? 366, if you’re looking at a 2020 calendar. Ditch that old calendar, and get yourself one for this year. Look at all those days on it.
Every one of those days is a day of new beginnings. Every day is a day to start something different. Every day is a day opportunities will come knocking. Every day is a day to set yourself a resolution (if you want to). Every day is a day you can make good use of. Every day is a day you can make somebody smile. Every day is a day you can do something good for somebody else. Don’t waste them.
What am I getting at?
Simply put, you can start a resolution on any day of the year. I’ve had more successes with resolutions I started on days other than New Year’s Day. But that makes a lot of sense when it’s 364 days against one day. And isn’t every new day the beginning of a new year in your life? Check out Erika’s post. I think she agrees with me.
Thank you.
There is something I enjoy doing every new year. I look back and thank those who shaped my life over the previous 12 months. And those include the people I never met but who in some way influenced my life.
As a blogger, I’m talking about those who visited my blog, read and joined in with the discussions on the posts I wrote and photos I shared.
If you’re not a blogger, then the people you will have been in touch with on social media may have influenced your life somehow. Think about it. You don’t have to hear words from somebody for them to influence your life. And you don’t need to physically meet someone for them to have an influence on your life.
If it weren’t for all of you out there, the last 12 months would have been a little quiet and emptier here on my blog. And I don’t believe that’s something any blogger wants for their blog.
So, a big thank you for all your support, kindness, and friendship and for being a big part of my 2020. You listened to me; you made me cry. You astounded me; you made me think. You made me change my life or persuaded me to try out something new. You entertained me; you helped me through the low points and encouraged me over the high ones. You influenced me.
What was 2020 like for you? Think hard before you answer that question.
2020 may have seemed a horrible and strange year for many of us, but it will have given us opportunities and some nice bits too.
For me, one of the most significant opportunities was an invitation to become a guest columnist at the Carrot Ranch, a blog hosted by Charli Mills. I may already know some of the Carrot Ranch writers, but an invitation to write for another blog is an opportunity I am incredibly thankful to have come my way in 2020.
Another significant opportunity 2020 gave me was to sort out and donate stuff to my local charity shops. ‘Lockdown’ allowed me to declutter my home and pass on items I no longer needed. Those expired items not only went on to generate money for good causes but were brought back to life by their new owners. I like to think that the happiness those items once gave me has now been passed on to the new owners.
2020 may be gone, but it shouldn’t be forgotten. Why? Elouise tells us why. Read her post here and read the comments on the post too.
Thank you, 2020.
Thank you, 2020, for the opportunities you presented to me. You may think you did a good job at hiding them from me, but they were there when I looked hard enough.
Now, I’m looking forward to the opportunities 2021 will bring.
What to do with New Year’s Resolutions
My answer is – Turn them into opportunities. Opportunities to make new friends, new acquaintances, and new experiences. Make people laugh, make people happy, teach people something new, and tell somebody something that will make them smile. Don’t turn your resolutions into opportunities that become barriers or hurdles for you or anyone else or that make people unhappy. Make people laugh, make people smile.
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist.
We are all in the gutter. But some of us are looking at the stars.
Oscar Wilde
Which ones are you going to be in 2021?
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Have you had any successes or failures with them? What opportunities did 2020 give you? What answer would you give to the title of this blog post? Leave me a comment and join the discussion.
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Hugh's Views & News 
Love the optimism in your post Hugh. We do tend to beat ourselves up for “failing” to keep those resolutions beyond a few days or if you’re really lucky a few weeks. Often they’re too ambitious. But if you make every day a new resolution day it becomes much more manageable and achievable. And then at day’s end you can look back in the glow of satisfaction of a successful day 🙂
Thank you, Karen.
Yes, I agree with you. I don’t know why anyone would want to put so much pressure on themselves on one day. Every day is a new beginning; a day when we can set ourselves a new resolution (if we want to). And, as you say, I think we have a far better chance at keeping to those resolutions if we feel less pressurised about them.
Reblogged this on B +Ve!!.
Nice post!
Happy new year…
Thank you. And thank you for reblogging my post and sharing it with your readers.
Happy New Year.
You’re most welcome Sir.
It’s a great pleasure to share such a beautiful post! 🙏
I entered this world with a breath of air and a sense of wonder of what might happen. I will enter 2021 the same way
Make a resolution to Laugh
That’s the spirit. I will be continuing to laugh all the way through 2021.
What an uplifting post, Hugh. Your positivity shines and I think we need more visible positivity. I agree with you every day is a new day full of opportunities. I don’t do resolutions ever. 2020 was a difficult year for many. However, aside from covid-19, I’ve had many positive experiences from 2020 and am grateful for them all.
Speaking of new year new opportunities, on New Year’s day, I took the opportunity to host a weekly Weekend Coffee Share blog link up starting on Friday, January 8. The previous blogger decided to step away from hosting duty. Everyone is welcome to join any and every week. I hope it’s OK that I mention it here and that you and other bloggers consider to join. Details on my blog.
Wishing you a fantastic 2021 ahead! #senisal
Thank you, Natalie. With all the gloom and doom from the TV, radio, news and some blogs about 2020, I wanted to make this an uplifting post about 2020. I agree it was a very different and often difficult year, but it also gave many opportunities. It’s good to hear that you also had some positive experiences from 2020.
I used to participate in ‘Weekend Coffee Share’ posts years ago when I first started my blog. However, I thought it had since ceased to exist. It’s good to know it’s still going. I wish you much success with hosting it. And I may join you from time to time.
Happy New Year to you.
I wrote about New Year’s resolutions, too! What is most important is whether your goal is created so it can be mastered, rather than it being made on the first day of the year. Happy New Year!
Great minds think alike. 😁
I absolutely agree with you. I’ve witnessed far too people giving up on New Year’s resolutions within days of starting them.
i feel the same. i wonder why everyone talk a lot about new year, new hope and ne lw reaolution. i think 1 january is just the turn of the month from 31 dec to 1 january. it same as 31 jan to 1 feb. why we put all wishes in 1 year on one day even though every day is a gift and another chance
Thank you. You are right. Every new month and every new day is a new beginning. Not just Jan 1st.
I hope you are able to turn all those opportunities into positive outcomes, Hugh. Have a good one.
I’ll certainly be giving it a try, Norah.
Happy New Year.
Go for it, Hugh!
Well, this took a minute to scroll to where I could comment, Hugh, which tells me how much your post resonates with people, but also how popular your blog is. You are a true friend to many and I pester Hans for us to come for a visit some day. Your gratitude and zest for life shines through in your posts and comments. I haven’t bothered with resolutions in years, other than resolve to not make any. 🤪 Some folks have a word of the year, and mine would be faith. Other than that, since I’ve been with Hans, my life is never a dull moment. Looking forward to a fab 2021 and beyond. And I look forward to your creativity and future posts, and I feel like you have something new up your sleeve 😁
Aww, now you’re making me blush, Terri. But I don’t mind that at all. A few days ago, this post was nowhere in sight. Like many others, I was caught up in the negativity that many claimed 2020 to be all about. But then I looked at 2020 differently and found that it had also done a lot of good, not just for me, but for most of us. I simply had to write it all down and begin my quest to inform people that 2020 wasn’t all about negativity. It was different; very different, but it could also have been much worse.
And I love what you say about resolutions and your life. That tells me that you also have a zest for life regardless of what is going on. I firmly believe that opportunities come out of everything that happens to us. I hope 2021 brings you and Hans many opportunities, Terri.
For me, the beginning of January is the very worst time to make resolutions – it’s midwinter, the weather is foul and I have less energy than at any other time of year. My only resolution – ever – is to try to live in the moment.
Yes, for us folk who live in the northern hemisphere, it being winter does not help. I wonder if folk in the southern hemisphere look at it differently?
They may well do! I hadn’t thought of that.
I really enjoyed this Hugh, your positivity, your gratitude and your humanity shines through your words. You are a fabulous blogger sharing thoughts, ideas and advice so generously and I’m so glad I’m connected to you. Have a great year ahead!
I’m so pleased you enjoyed reading this post, Debbie. So many (including the press, news and TV) only look at the negatives of 2020. Yes, it was different, but it was also a year that gave us lots of opportunities we probably don’t think about much. I’m so thankful for the opportunities, and good 2020 gave me that I’m not writing it off as a bad year. For me, it was different, not bad.
Thank you for your kind words.
Happy New Year, and keep me posted on what it’s like living the future. 😁
So far so good Hugh!
Well said, Hugh! I don’t have much to add to these wise words. Every day is an opportunity and a new start. I couldn’t agree more and that’s how I wake up each morning. Life – and the world – is full of opportunities.
2020 might not have been the greatest year, but, like every year, I was a little sad to let it go as I never wish time to go fast. I find time precious and want it to slow down, so we can truly savor those days, new adventures, and new opportunities. As you know, a milestone for me in 2020 was to publish my first book. 🙂
No, I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I might think of a goal or improvement or two towards happiness. But that’s it. Have a fantastic 2021, my friend!
Your first book did cross my mind when I was writing this post, especially the part where I said we should not write off 2020 just because it was a different year, Liesbet. 2020 allowed you to publish a book, and you took it. I expect it also gave Mark and you other opportunities that you may not have thought about. When I changed my mindset about 2020, I was amazed by the good I saw it gave us all. Just look at how it helped us cut Co2 emissions and bring us into contact with people we had not talked to for such a long time. I hope those two pieces of ‘good’ 2020 gave us continues this year. As with any year, it may be gone, but we should not forget it.
Well done of the achievements you made in 2020. Happy New Year to Mark, Maya and you.
Happy New Year, Hugh. I do like New Year’s resolutions, just because the idea of starting something on 1/1 has some appeal to me. But I agree, you can start a resolution whenever you want…
I don’t see any problems with making New Year’s resolutions on New Year’s Day, Jim. I even had success with the one I mentioned in this post. But we shouldn’t pressure ourselves in having too many when they can be spread out over the other 364 days of the year. After all, each new day is a new beginning.
Happy New Year.
yes, each day is a new beginning…
I don’t make New Years resolutions but I do enter the year with hopes. My hope this year is for rain. Just rain. We so need it 🥰
I hope the ‘hope’ you have this new year brings you enough rain. Not too much, because it can lead to flooding and cause all sorts of problems, but enough to ensure there are no wildfires in your part of the world this year.
Happy New Year.
What an uplifting post, Hugh! 2020 was one crazy year but it was also full of opportunities. I know that I’m one of the lucky ones (no job to lose, no elderly parents to worry about, a spouse, home and a yard), but I don’t think anyone got through the year untouched. You are right, there are 365 days ahead (well, closer to 364 now) and we need to make the most of each one. Happy New Year and thank you for being such a kind, generous blogger!
Thank you, Janis. I’m glad this post has come over as uplifting. I know 2020 was different, but it had lots of good points about it, especially those that showed how much humanity helped each other. I also see it as a year that hopefully, humans will continue looking after our planet and continue repairing the ozone layer. And if we all look hard enough, I’m sure there will have been opportunities for many of us. We shouldn’t write it off just because it was so different to other years we’ve lived.
Happy New Year to you.
Great read Hugh! 🙂
Thank you. Feel free to join in discussion with other bloggers who have left comments.
I like to make new year resolutions to keep a structure but leave them be flexible. I’m not upset of I add and subtract. Happy New Year, Hugh!
It’s good to hear that you add to them at other times of the year, Miriam.
Happy New Year to you.