For the past four years, I have re-engaged the same list of intentions for the New Year. This path began with inspiration from a 2018 poll completed by Marist College that found being a better person was one of the most frequently mentioned resolutions. This poll resonated with me, because it was the first time I had seen the response to a survey like this. As you can probably guess, year after year, most surveys such as the one to the right, have exercise, eating healthier, and losing weight as the top responses.
My 2023 New Year’s Intentions
I understood when I first constructed my New Year’s intentions in 2019 that I would sometimes fail, lose focus, and get distracted, which is what happened. Nevertheless, I set a course each year to do better. I learned to accept the lack of perfection by not letting my setbacks keep me from starting anew. I like to think that, at the very least, my striving toward this list has allowed me to progress toward being the person I want to be. Once again, my intentions for 2023 are:
I intend to be a better person by being:
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GRATEFUL
I will wake up each morning by saying a silent prayer, “Thank you for the gift of another day, and I will do my best to make the most of this gift.” It doesn’t mean being grateful for only the good things, but also for failures and setbacks because they are instruments of change and growth.LOVING
I will look for opportunities to welcome feelings of loving kindness toward others throughout the day, especially when my first impulse is not to do so. It’s not about expressing love sentimentally or reactively, but instead, a profound feeling of being connected to everyone.
OPTIMISTIC
I will approach each day with hope and excitement about all possibilities. This is not about looking at the world through
rose-colored glasses, but seeing it as it is, no matter how bad, and choosing to find what is right and good.WISE
I will strive to be open and non-judgmental and to see the world through other people’s eyes. It is not about being right or making profound statements, but guiding others to make the best decisions for themselves.
You may have noticed that if you take the first letter of each of these four items, they spell the word GLOW. This was an intentional choice. This acronym will help me remember my intentions, and the word “glow” describes how I want others to perceive me. I want to positively influence the world and help light the way for others. In saying this, I am not implying that I am unique or special. It means that I recognize I have something in common with all humans. I am perfectly imperfect, and that’s ok.
Changing the world starts inside us if we want to live in a better world and have happier and healthier lives. I hope you will reflect on the coming year differently and discover what path you can take that will lead you to be the kind of person you want to see reflected in the world.