If you are like most, today you will make some “resolutions” – things you want to change about your life to become a better person. This tradition is not new. Roughly 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians held celebrations in honor of the new year. For them, the year began not in January but in mid-March when they planted the new year’s crops. During a 12-day celebration, they promised their gods to pay their debts and return any borrowed objects.

For early Christians, the first day of the new year became a time to contemplate past mistakes and resolve to improve. In 1740, the English clergyman John Wesley, founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service, commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. These “watch” services included readings from the Scriptures and hymn singing. They served as a spiritual alternative to the usual raucous celebrations. 

Here are some resolutions we all need to try to follow for 2024. 

1. Be More Polite – Good manners are essential to a civil society. Good manners make connecting with others easier and usually help avoid offending people. Manners assist others in perceiving us as good and trustworthy people. The five magic words of good etiquette are: “please,” “excuse me,” “sorry,” “thank you,” and “pardon me.”

2. Watch Less TV – The average American spends nearly eight hours a day watching TV, more time than cooking, working, and probably sleeping. We could spend that time developing skills, expanding our minds, or keeping our bodies active. Once we cut down on TV time, we will realize just how productive a day can be.

3. Read More – Reading is an excellent way to learn about various topics. Reading serves as a great exercise for our brains. Even reading a little daily – 15 to 30 minutes – can enable most of us to go through 20 or more books in a year. Discover your favorite type of book and make time for reading.

4. Let Go of Grudges – Times can be challenging, and overcoming adversity is demanding, but sitting around and moping about our plight is counterproductive. How often do we engage in some argument that ends up hurting both us and those who are family members or friends? Is being “right” worth losing a friend or alienating members of our families? I have talked with many people who tell me they have not spoken to a former friend or family member in 20 or more years. Sometimes, the person cannot even remember what prompted the argument. Only the bitter aftertaste of the grudge remains. The answer to a grudge is forgiveness. Forgiveness is a much healthier way to deal with issues we should leave in the past. After all, the Lord Jesus taught us in the model prayer to pray that the Lord would forgive us AS we forgive others who trespass against us. Do we want to be forgiven in the same way we forgive?

5. Spend Less Time on Social Media – Some people may not spend hours worshipping at the altar of television or playing video games. Still, they seem to have a serious addiction to social media. Social media can help keep us in touch with family and friends. However, you might want to reconsider if you spend more than an hour a day scrolling through your Facebook “friends” feed or engaging with other forms of social media. Is social media genuine social interaction?

6. Be More Social – Engaging people face-to-face or on the phone has genuine advantages. Simple social interaction is enjoyable, and being social allows us to meet new people and learn interesting things about them. Real social interaction also helps us learn to work as a team and develop leadership skills. Even if you are shy and introverted, taking baby steps toward actual social interaction can help you grow in confidence and comfort in being involved with others.

I have shared a few resolutions for this new year. Feel free to borrow any of these you find helpful. I would also appreciate your sharing some of your resolutions with me.

Happy New Year!

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.