We have all heard the cliché: that the new year is the perfect time to make resolutions. There is nothing wrong with this, so long as such changes are truly improvements. With resolutions for the new year come common resolutions, such as to prioritize physical health. Although the frequent changes people want to make in their lives may be valid, I would like to challenge myself to come up with resolutions which would not only be beneficial, but rather unique to my own life.

• Be the best sister I can be.

I have a younger brother with special needs named Michael. Michael is nonverbal since  he has a communicative disorder called oral motor apraxia. He is the absolute epitome of kindness in my eyes, and his innocence and perception of the world inspire me to think more positively of others as does he. However, I am not always positive. I could be a better sister. We laugh, sing, and dance together, but I can improve. Patience is essential in life, and its vitality especially applies when people constantly need your assistance. Particularly, I feel that by becoming more patient with my brother, I will be a better sister.

• Pursue brief, content adventures in solitude.

Academics are crucial, but it is one of multiple facets of the life of a college student. I also love spending time with my family. However, I think that it would be great to go off more on my own and see what I will do. Over winter break, I ventured to the nail salon to unwind as well as a local café to just read and admire the environment. Although I love spending time with others, I love the feeling that comes with going places just for the sake of personal joy and peace rather than to just meet with someone. Such trips serve as a break, and I have the tendency to care more about my nails being painted during the summer instead of other parts of the year. During the semester, my thoughts are ingrained in my work and therefore, I do not think about little trips as much. I would like to change my mindset to remind myself of myself. 

• Embark on a more faith-based regimen.

We all hear the fads about dieting and healthy foods, but this regimen is different. Although I consider myself to be a Christian, I would like to incorporate more of God’s words into my life. As a child I prayed every day, but as I got older, my praying began to lessen. I began praying every night once again, and I would like to improve by praying even more. I want to challenge myself by visiting more churches and joining their communities. Also, I plan on reading the Bible more often as opposed to once in awhile, and surrounding myself with more people who have seen God’s grace to bring more optimism and peace into my life.

• Do something uncharacteristic of myself in the possibility of building new relationships and bringing happiness to others.

When I am with friends, my excitement is palpable, and my voice is loud. But when I see strangers, I become silent. Holding a door open for strangers is just common courtesy, but I want to challenge myself to be bold enough to start a conversation with someone who seems kind more often. If I am sitting at a table reading or doing work or standing in line and see someone who needs cheer, I want to be able to give that to them. I want to work on being more comfortable in giving eye contact, smiling, and initiating conversation to give someone joy. I want to not doubt myself when even considering the possibility of looking over at someone with a smile. I want to feel confident and strong in approaching someone I never met before and helping him or her and having an impactful discussion. Who knows what good can generate from the courage and time you take to just meet someone?

These are a few of the resolutions that I plan to implement not only for the new year, but for my life. In other words, from evaluating my checklist for the new year, I can say that my resolutions are rather long-term goals and hopefully effectual, as opposed to short lived and not practiced. It is perfectly alright to make new resolutions every year, but adding more and more as a tradition without actually putting them into effect or even maintaining them eliminates their value. Although counter-intuitive, a resolution for the new year is not a solution. It is not finite; it is progressive. If you are considering changes to make in your life, I can assure you that whatever they may be, as long as they are goals which you can strive for that have a positive impact, they are indeed resolutions.