A fresh new year offers everyone the endless possibilities of positive change and new beginnings. A time to set goals, generally referred to as Resolutions. Forty-five percent of Americans made New Year Resolutions in 2015; about 8 percent succeeded. Perhaps the others resolved to try again this year.

No matter. The point is that each year we can review the year completed and decide what to hope for from the new beginning before us. We can thank the Roman god Janus who presided over new beginnings as well as endings for our annual opportunity to start fresh. In ancient Rome, Janus was found in doorways. Because every door looked in two directions, Janus needed to see both forward and backward. He is, in that sense, two-faced.

Initially one face was unshaven, the other bearded – not unlike the New Year Baby and Father Time.

Romans believed it was important to follow proper procedure for new beginnings. Ever wondered why the bridegroom carried his bride over the threshold? One reason was to avoid the bad luck that would occur if she tripped or fell as she entered her new home.

It was especially important to please Janus at the beginning of a new year so that prosperity would flow. People decorated their houses with evergreens, made offerings, dressed festively and extended best wishes and the good gifts of dates and figs to everyone they met. Dates and figs predicted sweet things to come. The custom of New Year’s gifts persisted into the Middle Ages.

Do you think New Year’s Resolutions are a descendent of those early efforts to please Janus? What have you resolved to do in 2016? I resolved to be on my yoga mat five days a week, complete the research for my next book, and keep letting people know that Rama’s Labyrinth is available on Amazon.

No matter what, if anything, you resolved to do or be in 2016,

I wish you good health, abundant life, and joy in every day of this new year.

Featured Image: 1910 Postcard. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons

Pictures:

Sculptured Head of Janus. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.

Around the Web:

“Janus, Roman God.” Encyclopedia Britannica.

“New Years Resolution Statistics.” Research Date Dec. 27, 2015. Statistic Brain.

Annelida Stephan. “Lessons from the Romans.” The Getty Iris. Dec. 30, 2012

The post JANUS & THE FIRST NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

My conscience sorely troubles

Because I find they always break

As easy as soap bubbles.

It’s happened again. Another perfectly good year coming to a close. Another chance to start over again with a new set of goals, or maybe recycle ones from last year. Actress and screenwriter Nia Vardalos (who brought us My Big Fat Greek Wedding in 2002) once said,

“My New Year’s Resolution List usually starts with the desire

to lose between ten and three thousand pounds.”

Losing weight was the top resolution in 2014, and will probably be equally popular in 2015.

The second most popular resolution was getting organized. Interesting.

I rather like the suggestion made by theater critic James Agate:

To tolerate fools more gladly,

provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.

I think Agate was on to something – he found a goal that required little or no effort on his part.

Nothing like the traditional picture of Father Time giving advice to the New Year Baby to make you think of time passing. Not that the baby is paying any attention. Junior knows this year will be different. He won’t make the same mistakes his father did. That’s probably true.

And we resolve not to slack off like we did last year. We’ll start walking up the stairs instead of riding the elevator. We’ll go for walks in the park or with our dog around the block, getting fresh air and exercise.

We’ll eat at home more. And while we’re at it, we’ll eat more fresh vegetables. For dessert – guilt-free dark chocolate. Purely for its antioxidant content, of course.

And while we’re outside or at home cooking, we’ll invite actual people to join us. We’ll talk and make eye contact.

As for me, I’m going to publish my book this year.

Time is fleeting. If you’re going to announce your Resolutions, you’ve got three days to make them. Hint: It’s easier to lose three pounds than three thousand. Pick something reasonable.

RESOLVE TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE THIS YEAR.

Acknowledgements:
Featured Image: “New Year Resolution” 1909. US Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.

New Years Resolution Statistics. Statistic Brain. Here.

Quotations from BrainyQuote.com

“101 Easy to Follow New Year’s Resolutions.” Simple Truth. Here.

The post REASONABLE RESOLUTIONS first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.