I am curious and wish this were online so we could take a poll of everyone who chose a New Year’s resolution and how many people stuck to said resolution.
It’s a curious thing we do to ourselves and uniquely American. According to a Pew Research poll, the first month of 2025, 30% of Americans made at least one New Year’s resolution and yet about 9% ever fully reach their goals. What did not surprise me was where the poll broke down the percentages by age. 49% were between 18 and 29 and 18% were 65 and older, I think that is rather telling about the 9% who succeed. So, why do we do it to ourselves? Are we gluttons for punishment? Perhaps. Or are we eternally optimistic that with each passing year we can achieve something wonderful? I imagine there is a little of both rolled into the mix.
I suggest a paradigm shift in thinking about resolutions. What if we chose to frame our thoughts and plans into things that are measurable, practical and create a sense of well-being? Hear me out, I have a goal to lose weight; the amount shall remain in my head for now, but what if instead of focusing my energy on losing weight (which has not worked in the past), I set a goal of planting 20 trees in 2025, or commit to reaching out to 20 old friends over the next year or going on 20 long walks - that’s not even two walks per month, but it is structured. I even thought about saying hello to 20 new people over the next month. I am not saying 20 should be your number, but it works for me (on so many scales, I mean levels).
If you are a garden junkie like I am, maybe this is the year that as you look through the seed catalogs and pick five new plants to grow that you have never grown before, or explore five new trails this summer, maybe discover five new native plants in our region. I do love receiving pictures from people’s gardens, or hikes, by the way.
Who knows, maybe over time I can create a pattern and a rhythm around my ideas and happen to lose some undisclosed amount of weight this year; wouldn’t that be a lovely byproduct of resolving to connect and engage with nature and others? Bring it on, February, I am feeling quite resolved!
Heather Houk is the Horticulture and Agriculture specialist for the La Plata County Extension Office.
