Resolved for New Beginnings

The January picture from my National Parks and Monuments Calendar

Visiting a few blogs today, I noted some discussions about New Year's resolutions. Many of the blogs that I have read lean toward not making resolutions. Myself, I can see great value in making resolutions to turn over a leaf. Granted this new start does not necessarily have to begin at the dawn of a new year. One can, of course, resolve to make life changes whether large or small at any time. However, the beginning of a new year does give both psychological and chronological demarcation. A time that one can look back and say "I stopped smoking on January 1, 2008" or "I started saving twenty dollars a week in January of 2008."

The January picture of my new Garden Birds of North America calendar

A small joy that I have each year is putting up the new calendars, and actually I like to turn the page of a calendar a the start of each month. Not only do I enjoy the beautiful new pictures, but I like the idea of a new beginning. I like the thought of putting unhealthy habits to rest. Yes, resolutions can be quickly broken. But some problems not addressed are never resolved. If you smoke a cigarette after resolving to quit, you can still quit smoking. If you only save twenty dollars in January, maybe you can save sixty dollars in February. Resolutions allow us to make meaningful changes in our lives.

So, I wish for all of us a year of new beginnings.