Another year has come to an end (by our current reckoning at any rate) and we once again come to that time when we evaluate the year that has passed and plan for the one yet to come; or maybe not. While the tradition of the New Year's resolution is still strong in today's world, I wonder how many of us have in truth dispensed with the task of drawing up task or goal, usually one which is just beyond the reach of reality, and have set about to attempt to reach, and yet perennially fall short of the mark. Personally, I have stopped making New Year's resolutions. Not that it happened consciously, but rather looking back on the past few years I've noticed the new year come and go with no real plan put in place to increase, decrease, alter, or discontinue a said action or behaviour. Perhaps it is because of past experience with failure to reach a New Year's goal, coupled with the awareness that the goal was slightly ludicrous to begin with, and yet an equally ludicrous goal would be dreamed up for the following year.
Don't misunderstand, I think goals are important; when they're formed rationally, that is. However, I would rather have a year that was based on small goals developed (and altered if need be) throughout, instead of staring off with a bang and slowly, or on some cases, quickly fading into a shadow of disappointment. Around this time many people turn towards fitness goals, and I am no exception. I have found, though, that the road to fitness has been a long one with many detours, breakdowns, successes, surprises, and complete failures. As a result, I no longer look to the new year with the mantra, "This year I will get fit." Rather, I see the new year as an opportunity to renew an ongoing commitment to better fitness and health. A subtle difference, perhaps, but one that I think needs to be acknowledged. It's one thing to say, "Starting on January 1st, I will get into shape." It's another to say, "I understand this to be a process; a process that has taken many years up to this point, and if I'm honest with myself, will require the rest of my life to maintain. As this is the start of a new year, I will take the time to appreciate what I've accomplished so far, acknowledge where I have fallen short, and focus myself for the days to come."
Of course, this does not have to be limited to fitness. I have many other "projects" on my list, as I'm sure you do as well. Being a better husband and father, fixing up the house, improving relationships with family members, becoming a more understanding person, et cetera, et cetera. Again, these are all works in progress and to pick the 1st of January as a starting point would, to some degree, disregard all the work done in the past. People sometimes think of New Year's as starting off with a clean sheet; I do not. We are not clean sheets, nor can we, I believe, ever make ourselves so. Our past will always be with us; it's what makes us who we are. The future is a funny place. It's the one destination that will never ultimately be reached, and it's the one trip where our baggage is guaranteed not to be lost.
In the end, I guess I don't see the new year as a rebirth or reinvention of self, rather it's a continuation of the person I am already and prelude to person I am yet to be.
Now if you will excuse me, I have to get ready for my next run. Yes, it's called the "Resolution Run" and yes it takes place on on January 1st., but really I'm just in it for the swag... really...
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