Your New Year Resolution.
Ever feel awkward about celebrating January 1st as the New Year instead of Rosh Hashanah? As shocking as it may seem — considering many of us are still emotionally processing the past two years with our jaws dropped in incredulity, the calendar year of 2022 has just begun. Are you a New Year resolution type? Some resolutions, like committing to go to the gym or set a new sleep schedule are pretty mainstream. For all intents and purposes, the world has just passed ‘peak commitment day’ — aka January 1st — thousands of people have made commitments to themselves and their loved ones to try better, be better and do better this year. Every year, in the lead up to this 24-hour period on the Gregorian calendar, I invariably get asked the same question (albeit in different formats) “Is January 1st Jewish? Can I celebrate New Year’s Eve?”
My answer is always the same — YES! Any opportunity to reflect on ourselves and make resolutions about bettering our existence, the answer is always YES! Having multiple opportunities during the year to make and keep resolutions is a gift.
In 1966, Jonathan Freedman and Scott Fraser from Stanford University conducted a study to see just how much a previous commitment would affect future decision making. Researchers went door-to-door in a residential neighborhood, asking homeowners to put up a small (3-inch) sign promoting safe driving. Two weeks later, the researchers asked homeowners to put up a gigantic, poorly lettered, property-obscuring, front-door-obstructing sign that read ‘Drive Carefully’ for one week. Households that had previously said yes to a small 3-inch sign agreed to the God-awful signs at a staggering rate of 76%. This compared to just 17% for households that hadn’t previously been approached. How much difference can a little commitment make? In this case, around 450%!
As we all know, Commitment Bias wreaks havoc in far more places than suburban front yards. It’s what keeps us studying toward the same college degree, even if deep down we know we’d be better off studying something else. It’s why we finish the fast food we ordered, even if we’re feeling full halfway through, and why we stick with our sports teams, even if they bring us nothing but misery (or so I’ve heard).
While it’s easy to dismiss the whole ‘new-year-new-me’ stuff as a self-delusional joke, there is something to be said for writing out — and committing to — your goals at the start of a new year if you really want to see them through. What are your spiritual resolutions this year, if that’s your thing?
As we begin 2022, many are asking themselves — how is 2022 going to be different? What does this year have in store for me? Most of the commitments made before/after/during New Years Eve are likely promises to ourselves and our loved ones to change, do different, be different, kick habits and strive towards our goals. While they are always personal, one area we can all do better in is in feeling and expressing genuine gratitude. Today is Daniella Moffson’s sixth yahrzeit. Daniella was just 21 when she was tragically killed during a service mission to Honduras. Her life was dedicated to giving back to others, to helping those in need, spreading love and goodness, gratitude and making this world a better place.
If we are still searching for that new year’s resolution, or if we want to take on another in the merit of this most special young lady, let us all commit to one extra act of kindness and gratitude. Just saying “Thank you” can be an incredibly powerful pair of words, especially if the person you’re thanking really needs to hear them, or isn’t expecting them.
Let’s march into 2022 carrying the torch of gratitude, kindness and love and may it illuminate each of us brightly for the entire year.
