Resolutions vs. New Year resolutions

When we were younger,

We had to make a resolution in school,

For the new year.

I guess some people considered their resolution a goal,

While others wanted it just to be something to improve on,

No matter what reasoning was behind the resolution,

I never kept mine.

Life changes, as simple and cliché as that statement is, it’s true.

Dreams change, aspirations shift focus.

Unexpected occurrences are thrown our way.

Some resolutions made might not always be able to be kept.

While I respect some people do keep them,

Personally, in a year there is a lot of room for change,

And holding true to your resolution may weigh you down,

Instead of making you feel like you're achieving something.

A resolution doesn’t have to be a one time thing,

We only make it seem that way because we put “New Year”,

In front of resolution.

In reality, if you wanted you could start a resolution at any time,

And not feel obligated just because a year has passed.

Anyways, on New Year's Day, when you make that resolution,

To go on a diet, you know eventually that ice cream is too tempting,

To resist.

When you make that resolution,

To give yourself more free time on weekends, there’ll be a weekend with not a minute to breathe.

When you make that resolution,

To be more positive, there will be something that will bring you down.

What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to uphold this image,

Of achieving this resolution, during that year without fumbling.

You can achieve a resolution but it could be broken up,

Working on it on and off, here and there, 4 months or 4 years.

Even though you want that diet, it’s okay to have a cheat day.

Even though you want that free time, life gets busy,

And you can’t always control that.

Even if you want to be more positive, you get knocked down,

To prove that you can get back up even if it takes a bit.

It’s okay to have resolutions, but it’s important to face the realities,

Of the unexpected, turbulent, glorious, and complicated life we live.

I don’t believe in New Year resolutions.

But I believe in a complicated, unpredictable, start and stop resolution.

Filled with pain, joy, cheat days, booked weekends, free time, balance, breaks, revelations, achievement, and most importantly,

filled with,

Life.