It seems everywhere I blog-hop I find everyone’s New Year’s resolutions (I’m actually just enjoying the last few hours of my freedom from work, which I shall return enslavement to after my holiday break). Another new year, another “chance” of a new life. New goals, new aspirations, new targets. But have you really stopped and wondered why these resolutions are made every new year and not just on some ordinary day? What’s so special about the New Year anyway? The “7” from “2007” just turned 8.

Yeah, I know I’m being cynical. But hey, it’s a thought. Say one of your resolutions is to quit smoking. Ok… Now, tell me. Why wait for the New Year when you can do that the very next day? Or the very hour? Or the very moment you said you will quit smoking? Do your lungs need to withstand “just a few more days” so you can “officially” start quitting on New Year? I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that a “resolution” like this is more of a bargain than an actual promise.

Oh, and yes, I’ve heard that “I will quit smoking” resolution from my friends and relatives a thousand times over. But none ever materialized. I’d find them struggling to quit for a few days, then the next time I see them, they’re puffing smoke as if there won’t be any tomorrow.

I’ve quit smoking twice, and not one of it was “declared” on a New Year.

The first time I quit, it was about three years ago when I suddenly realized that I couldn’t afford to get sick—my dad wouldn’t be able to handle three disabled people under his wing. My dad needed my help, so I figured that I had to stay as healthy as possible. But once I got married and Marc moved in with us, I became complacent and risked smoking again.

The second time I quit was just last October, when my dog Sheero passed away. I haven’t had a cigarette since.

So what am I getting at? A New Year isn’t enough of a reason to actually do something. IMHO, it seems a bit overrated. Just because it’s New Year doesn’t necessarily mean “new life,” or that you “should” set new goals for yourself. It’s because you want to, not because it’s New Year. It just so happened you made resolutions on a New Year, but that mustn’t necessarily mean that you’re having those resolutions just because it’s New Year.

I guess I’m just not that sentimental when it comes to New Year resolutions. My parents have taught me that goals and promises to improve life can be done any given day of the year, and should be made with conviction. It doesn’t matter when you say it, what matters is, you do it. If you want to quit smoking, so quit. You don’t need to wait for 2008 to do it.

Yeah, I know that the start of the year is a good starting point. You get to look back at what happened within the span of a year, take note of what you can improve on, etc. etc. But the thing is, life isn’t like a business plan that you can review every year. It’s not as easy as creating forecasts in profits, and making contingency plans for changes in economy or other environmental factors.

I probably learned a bit too soon that life is just unpredictable. You can be going through your everyday things one moment, and the next you’re spending the afternoon beside your mom who just had a stroke. You can be waking up from a usual satisfying siesta, and the next thing you know, you’re getting a call from the vet that your dog is dead. You just never really know what could happen to you next.

Yes, that’s why I will again not have a list of goals for the New Year. I don’t like making promises I don’t know if I could keep (heck, you can ask my husband Marc how strongly I feel about keeping promises :P). I set my goals as needed, and right now I’m doing the best I could to attain my dreams. I honestly feel I don’t need a New Year to set goals, so that’s what I’m doing. No New Year’s Resolutions for me 😀

Do I think that a lot will change this 2008? Oh, yes, I certainly do. In my case, I know for sure at least. And you will eventually know why in the coming months 🙂

HAPPY NEW YEAR!