One-Word Resolution

How many times have you heard the words “HAPPY NEW YEAR” during the past week? Well, those three words will be repeated often during the first couple of weeks in January as a New Year gets under way but it’s interesting to note that the day celebrated as New Year’s Day in modern America was not always January 1st.

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 B.C., the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible crescent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1st, on the other hand, has no astronomical or agricultural significance.

The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days with each day having its own mode of celebrating. Our New Year’s festivities pale in comparison to eleven days of partying. I can’t even imagine being one of those in Times Square in New York for just a few hours while waiting for the famous ball to fall. That really doesn’t sound like fun to me!

The Romans are responsible for the New Year’s observation of today. In order to get the calendar correct, Julius Caesar had to let a previous year drag on for 445 days in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun.

One of the traditions of the season is make a New Year’s resolution. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians and I bet that they didn’t succeed any better than we do.

The neatest resolution that this reporter has discovered is the one-word resolution. The goal is to pick a single word, just ONE, and let that word come alive in your life over a twelve-month period.

One person picked the word PATIENCE. With the word tucked nicely into a corner of his mind, not even a week had passed without this one word already being tested! Just driving four kids to the mall would test anyone’s patience, but after arriving at the mall and trying to keep up with the four almost made this one word impossible.

In the tense moments that followed an outburst, this person remembered that this was the year to follow the one-word resolution, PATIENCE! Over the course of the next twelve months, there were many instances where patience was tried repeatedly.

What area of your character could use some growth? Is there a part of your life that needs improving? If you had to choose a word to work on this year, what word would it be?

How about kindness, generosity, health, contentment, compassion, happiness, control, service, truthfulness, trust or forgiveness?

Pick a word, any word, and see if you can master a one-word resolution. Write it on your calendar, stick it on your refrigerator or put a post-it note in your vehicle. Place the one-word resolution in a place that can’t be missed daily.

Make a conscious effort to change with this one word so when January 2015 rolls around, another word can be chosen for that year. Good luck and remember; it’s only a ONE-WORD RESOLUTION!