When I was a kid, there was something about the day after Christmas that always made me a little sad. Seeing the decorations that adorned our homes, local retail stores, and the streets of downtown Hattiesburg in the days following Christmas felt so melancholic. They served only to remind me that the holiday we'd waited for all year had come and gone. After Dec. 26, seeing all those holiday decorations was kind of a bummer, even more so because it meant our two-week break from school was halfway over.
OK, OK, so I'm looking at the holidays through the eyes of a child. But, come on, when you were that age, didn't you love getting two weeks out of school, not to mention waking up to a living room filled with presents from Santa on Christmas morning? Now don't get me wrong. I wasn't some greedy little kid who grew up to be a greedy big adult. Quite the opposite. My friends and family know I have a reputation for giving. Truth is, nothing makes me happier than seeing someone smile thanks to an act of kindness. To me, it's a present all by itself.
Of course, with Christmas behind us, we turn our sights to the next big holiday, less than a week away. Goodbye, 2024; our brand-new year begins this coming Wednesday. Parades, parties, football games and, of course, all the food that goes with them. Supermarkets around town are already stocked with plenty of black-eyed peas for that traditional first meal for good luck in the new year.
The giant media outlets have begun listing what they consider to be the biggest news stories of 2024. Near the top of everyone's list is President Joe Biden dropping out of this year's election, along with President Donald Trump winning a return to the White House after a four-year absence. In fact, Trump landed on the cover of Time this year as the magazine's choice for Person of the Year.
Some people were angry with Time’s choice of Trump this year. But the magazine's criteria for making its selection should be noted. Since 1927, Time has chosen a person, group or idea that, "for better or worse," most influenced world events in the preceding year. Maybe that qualifier will make some folks feel better. Let's forget the politics of 2024, though. We'll have plenty of time to analyze political happenings in 2025.
Another thing lots of people have already begun thinking about is making those New Year's resolutions. Some folks even make more than one. As for me, I've never been big on making resolutions for the new year. I've never made one, and, at this late date, it's safe to say I never will. Here's the closest I've come to making one:
Those who know my story know that, back in my youth, I was an obese kid who grew up to become a morbidly obese adult. I'll never forget the year I began working to lose weight. By late 1978, I'd topped out at 484 pounds before taking control of my eating habits, losing nearly 300 pounds.
But you know what? Even then, losing the weight wasn't the result of making or sticking to some New Year's resolution. In fact, I began working to lose weight just two weeks before Christmas. Thing is, I didn't need to wait until the beginning of the new year to start. I just made up my mind to do it.
And what about the rest of us? Whether it's to get out of debt, take up a new hobby or, yes, lose weight, making those resolutions is usually a part of the New Year's fun. But hold it: Did you know that roughly 90% of New Year's resolutions end up abandoned within the first few months of the year? Not a great track record.
Oh sure, we start out with the best of intentions on Jan. 1, full of hope and optimism as the new year begins. But, just like the day after Christmas, after the excitement dims and we settle back into our routines, our commitment to those resolutions often begins to fade away. Don't do that to yourself.
After all, who says we have to wait for New Year's Day to make resolutions? My fight to lose weight wasn't born out of a resolution for the new year. Because I wanted to reclaim my life from my eating habits, it was a commitment I could have made any day of the week. And I did.
Making resolutions is fun and, if you can stick to them, they can pay off in big ways. Just remember to set realistic goals for yourself in the new year. Begin with baby steps, working your way up to bigger ones.
For instance, if you've chosen to make getting in more exercise your resolution, start out slow. That's what I did when I decided it was time for me to lose weight. I began with a daily walk, barely a mile a day—not easy for a 484-pound man. But each day, I'd add a little more distance to my routine. Over time, one mile became two, and eventually I was up to a combination walk/run of over five miles a day.
Ever since then, exercise has been a dedicated part of my life. A day doesn't go by without an hour on my exercise bike and can't imagine not doing it. In the process, I've discovered that good habits are just as hard to break as bad ones.
Resolving to eat healthier next year? Start now by replacing unhealthy foods with more nutritious options. My mother grew up in rural Greene County, Mississippi, where Black residents had little access to medical care. But she used to say, "God put all the things on this Earth we need to cure what ails us." That goes for our eating options, too. Eating the right foods, along with exercise, are like medicine for your body.
Got a New Year's resolution in mind for yourself this year? Whether it's to lose weight, eat healthier, or take better care of your finances, remember: You never have to wait for the new year to start. Every day you wake up is like, well, its own New Year's Day—a brand-new chance to reach for your goals, whatever they might be.
And OK, I'm done rambling. All that's left for me to say is:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
—
Elijah Jones is a proud Hattiesburg native who enjoys writing. Email him at edjhubtown@aol.com.
