A New Year Coming – Resolutions?

Superior National Forest / Photo by Aubree Herrick / Unsplash

As we move more deeply into December and prepare for the coming holidays — a delight for some, misery for others — we look ahead to a new year about to begin. This means that ’24 is rapidly coming to a conclusion. We are in a kind of in-between time, and this transition time means different things to different people. One of the things this time means to me is the opportunity to look back over ’24 as well as look ahead to ’25. One action I take is making some resolutions for ’25, a topic I would like to explore in this article.

I realize some people hate this topic and feel resentments and anger when the topic is raised. That is true of a very good friend of mine who recently became upset and angry when I mentioned this topic. It seemed to raise for her times when she made resolutions and quickly found herself failing to keep them and feeling shame and guilt at failing to carry through on her resolutions. So, I realize making resolutions is not everyone’s cup of tea!

Begin small as we can always add more things to do.So, in this article I would like to present why I make resolutions and a way I have found that has helped me in not only making resolutions but also keeping them. I begin with an analogy — an analogy which comes from a sport that is reaching its high point at this time of the year — football. I suggest that a year ending with a new year soon to begin is like a football game in which the first half has been completed and the teams retreat to their respective locker rooms to process the first half – or the ending year – and talk about what went well and what didn’t  as well as what can we learn to play better in the second half – or the new year. I see making resolutions, then, as putting together a plan for the new year that builds on what we learned from the last year and begins to name some things we want to do in the new year

SEE ALSO  Looking for Hope

I want to make a few suggestions for making a resolutions in ’25. First, I would invite you to spend a little time reflecting on a few things that worked and didn’t work for you in ’24. For myself, I found writing articles and a book on recovery issues were very important for me. On the other side of the coin, I learned that I can get over-stretched, having too many irons in the fire.  How about you as you look back over your ’24, what are some learnings for you?

Here are a few resolutions that arise out of my learnings from ’24. First, I want to continue to write articles about issues related to recovery from addiction – like this article. Second, I want to practice saying no more when I realize my plate is already full. A few resolutions for you as you look ahead to ’25?

A few suggestions about resolutions that will hopefully help you if you want to make some resolutions for ’25. First, it is very important that our resolutions be manageable and doable. Begin small as we can always add more things to do. Success always beats failure as a motivator! Second, I have found it helpful to be accountable about what we have resolved to do. Another person or group – like a recovery group – can support us in our efforts and also help us by making suggestions when we find ourselves struggling with what we are trying to do.

I wish you well in this time of transition between ’24 and ’25. I hope what I have shared will help you as you look ahead to ’25 and possibly make some resolutions about what you want to do. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. And the failure around a resolution doesn’t mean we are failures. We might simply have to re-adjust what we set out to do. I wish you well.


Mark T Scannell is an avid 12 Stepper whose latest book – Affirm & Nurture: A New Look at 12 Steps – seeks to put a more positive look to some of the Steps. He can be reached at gasscann@bitstream.net.

Last Updated on December 29, 2024

SEE ALSO  A 10th Step Reflection: Accountability is a Key to Recovery

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *