Irresolutions: New Year, New You?

Post Author: Merianna Harrelson

The new year in American culture rings in the reminder of all the ways our culture wants to change us. Diets and special offers for gyms and workout programs flood our emails and social media feeds, triggering within us the idea that we need to improve. 

Resolutions aren’t a new concept. In fact, the Ancient Babylonians made resolutions for the new year, but they celebrated in mid-March as the signs of spring and new life were beginning to appear. When the new year changed to January 1 in Ancient Rome, it was a deeply religious time, a time to look back at the past year and make commitments to change for the better spiritually. But over time in American culture, these ancient practices have shifted away from the spiritual realm and concentrate mainly on physical improvements to our bodies. Recently there has been a pushback to these cultural expectations of weight-loss and dieting with people recognizing that the weight-loss and diet culture is an industry that profits off of making people feel inadequate. Not only is it an industry, it’s a $58 billon dollar industry. 

Katherine May in her heart-warming book Wintering offers a different perspective. She suggests that just like nature, we need a time of wintering or hibernating. We need a time for our souls to replenish themselves, especially during the season where there is less sunlight. Our souls need it and our bodies need it. 

As this idea has begun to take root, The Little Book of Hygee has risen in popularity, expanding Americans’ understanding of how other countries approach the cold of winter. This book reminds readers of the importance of creating a cozy place of respite and sanctuary. It isn’t in the grand commitments but in the intentional sharing of life and light with friends and family that we find ourselves renewed. 

Light in the Darkness

At the beginning of January, we are inundated with the message “New Year, New You!” The hashtag #newyearnewyou floods our streams with diet and fitness plans that will help us get the new year off to a good start. Magazine covers advertise the health benefits of getting in shape and setting goals. We can’t seem to get away from the message that the old us just won’t do for the new year. 

If you are finding yourself unsure about whether you want to join the #newyearnewyou trend, you aren’t alone. Perhaps there is something deeper within you that is resisting these cultural norms. Perhaps your soul is asking you to winter just a little bit longer so that you can have the strength you need to approach whatever the new year brings to you. There are many more people who are looking to create a cozy sanctuary and resist giving more profits to multi-billion dollar industries. Maybe in resisting the trend together, we are actually creating a new us.