VidYouth

Time is like the grains of sand. Days pass into months, the months pass into years and all comes to an end. A warm goodbye is bid to the yesterdays, with the hope that each new morning will bring with it, the promise of greatness, of change and of improvement. The transition of time is always hoped, imagined, anticipated and celebrated by one and all. The end of the year 2009 and the consequent beginning of 2010 denotes the end of a chapter in our lives and the beginning of a new one, wherein it is resolved by everyone that their previous mistakes will never be repeated again paving the way to success.

People make New Year resolutions to begin the year on a productive note. Some are kept, while some are forgotten, but New Year Celebrations are quite incomplete without the talk on ‘new year resolutions’.

“So what does Gen X think of these – Are promises meant to be broken, kept or made and forgotten?” Pens Eve asked a few youngsters.
“Resolutions are a way of trying to steer the coming year in the right direction. Although my resolutions last until the year is ‘new’, I still like to make them,” says Supriya Surana, a student of Loyola Academy. The past cannot be erased or forgotten. However, by re-organizing the Present, one can hope to carve out a favourable and desirable future for himself/herself. This is the simple philosophy behind the idea of New Year Resolutions. “A New Year brings with it, the possibility of a new start. A resolution is taken at the onset of a New Year, to see ourselves as a better bunch of people in the coming year, by attempting to overcome the regular flaws,” says Poonam Jain, a student of St. Francis College for Women. With contagious enthusiasm, she further adds, “I think one should make resolutions. It’s a healthy habit. I usually make and follow my resolutions, although I haven’t been able to think of anything this time.”

The custom of New Year resolution-making has been dwindling over the years. It was found to be a rage among the youth a few years ago, to vow to improve, to change and to grow. Zainab Rangoonwala, a student of Psychology, says, “Children today don’t make any special New Year Resolutions; a majority of them don’t even know about the once-popular custom. The practice is quite ancient and is soon fading.” Voicing her sentiments is Fatima Zahur, a student of International Academy of Computer Graphics, who says, “I don’t believe in the idea of making New Year Resolutions.” When asked why, she answered with a coy smile, “Because I don’t follow them, I’ve stopped making them.”

While some youngsters make promises on special occasions, there are others who feel that one should act when the opportune moment strikes. They don’t suggest waiting for a ‘defining moment’. “We can start things anew every day, not just at the threshold of a new year. I believe we should give equal importance to starting not only the year, but also the day, week and month on a positive note. Once we do that, the difference will be there for all to see,” observes Ankita Khemani, an ex-student of Badruka College of Commerce.

At the backdrop of the ‘no-changers’, there is a small portion of the youth population who make promises and actually keep them. One such promise-keeper, Shubhra Jain says, “When you vow to stay away from your favourite delicacy or drink, it seems quite difficult, almost next to impossible to keep it, because temptations are always present to weaken your invincible spirit. You’ve just got to keep reminding yourself about your decision and the process really strengthens your will power.” When asked what she’d decided to avoid, she answers ‘Sprite’.

College life is quite strenuous and students today are faced with a number of unavoidable appointments – personal and scholastic. It is therefore quite understandable if one tends to forget a few unimportant things, New Year Resolutions being among them. Ashwini Vemupati, a second year student says, “New Year Resolutions don’t work for me as I often forget the ‘grand plan’ soon before it reaches the stage of implementation.”

Ushering in the New Year with colours. Credits : Pens Eve

Some popular promises taken at the outset of a New Year:
- To lose weight and exercise regularly.
- To avoid chocolate.
- To ‘go green’.
- To be patient.

On the other hand, some unusual resolutions:
- To avoid using slang.
- To become ‘bold’ by watching scary movies.
- To study, not for the sake of marks, but to acquire knowledge.
- To avoid abusing people in their absence; rather do it in front of them.

Whether the commitments are kept or not, the beginning of the year is a period of anticipation for most of the younger lot. Like the first gleam of sunlight that touches the Earth at dawn, illuminating the surface, this New Year brings with it a new ray of hope that all will be fine in the coming year and all that was not fine will be fine.

Here’s Wishing all a very Joyful and Productive New Year!
Happy 2010!