New Year's Resolution
By: Angelo Olsen

About 4,000 years ago the ancient Babylonians began a tradition of making New Years resolutions. They believed that what you did on the first day of the new year would have an effect on the following year. The most common resolution of the ancient Babylonians was to promise to return borrowed farm equipment!
Their New Year began with the coming of spring, March. Through the years, and countless changes in the calendar during the days of the Roman Empire, January 1st has become the official beginning of the New Year.

There are many superstitions that surround the celebration of the New Year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Years Day would effect your luck through out the following year. It was also believed that if your first visitor was a tall dark-haired man you would have very good luck the following year.

In many cultures certain foods are thought to bring good luck on New Years. Foods that are shaped like a ring are thought to be lucky, because it symbolizes the "coming of a full circle." Other foods that are thought to bring good luck on New Years are black-eyed beans, hog jowls or ham, and cabbage. So, get out your recipe books and cook up some good luck this New Years!

Some of the most common resolutions are:
1. To increase exercise.
2. To improve, or work harder, at work or school.
3. To eat healthier.
4. To stop smoking, drinking, or using drugs including caffeine.

Most resolutions focus on the "Me" or inward. These resolutions rarely are kept through out the year. Here are some idea's for resolutions that don't focus on the "Me".

1. Donate clothes, blankets etc to your local Abused Women's Shelter, Salvation Army, or Goodwill.
2. Volunteer time monthly to your local schools to help children learn to read or right. Also, you can donate pencils, pens, paper to your local school.
3. Recycle. This can be cans, paper, glass, etc.
4. Volunteer to help clean a park or adopt a mile of highway to pick up trash on.

Taking the time to focus on others can only help to strengthen yourself and your community. I hope that these idea's will help you in coming up with doable resolutions. Good luck to all and have a safe and happy New Years!

About the Author: Angelo Olsen is the loving and supportive husband of Rebecca Olsen, and father of Jason. Rebecca recently became a work at home mom with MomsExpo. Angelo enjoys writing, skiing, and spending time with his family, and supports www.MomsExpo.com and all of the resources that are provided for women around the world.

© 2003 :: Angelo Olsen.