By SHEFA RAFI
Not uncommon to witness people making New Year resolutions year after year. And this has become more often than not an annual ritual during New Year fete. But to what extent people adhere to it leaves much to be desired.
A peep into the history of origin of New Year resolutions reveals that it has some religious root as it was Babylonians, who made promises to their Gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
The Romans began each year by making promises to Janus, the God of gateways and beginnings, on whom the month of January is named. Quite interestingly, it was ancient Babylonians, who are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago.
According to recent research, as many as 45 percent of Americans say they usually make New Year resolutions, but only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals. This only proves to show that resolutions seldom materialises in this materialistic world. Better to do away with this age-old custom of making resolutions. Instead, changing one’s habit will make future bright if the thought-provoking quote of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is any indication. ‘You cannot change your future. But you can change your habits, and surely your habits will change your future’ is what ‘Missile Man of India’ had said. Let the dawn of the New Year bring happiness and peaceful living.
