聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 With 2015 upon us, I thought I'd look at New Year's resolutions. Apparently they are a mostly Western practice, though it can be found throughout the Eastern Hemisphere as well.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A resolution is usually the act of self-improvement or committing to doing something nice. One of the big resolutions always has to do with working out or losing weight; gym memberships likely take a leap in January I assume.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Apparently it's a practice that has grown since the ancient Babylonians who would make promises to their gods at the beginning of each new year. The Romans would make promises to Janus, the month of January is actually named after this god. During the Medieval age a 鈥減eacock vow鈥� was sworn following Christmas recommitting to their chivalrous duties as knights.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ultimately, whichever era of historical significance you look at the main idea was to reflect on the year past and to look at self improvement to lead a better life.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Before university I used to be an avid reader. I always had a book on the go, but attempting to keep up with readings and essays in university sent my reading for fun habit to the wayside.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Summers were always for leisurely reading, but these last couple of years with work I've somewhat avoided reading. I'd pick up a book read a couple chapters and then a month later grab it again.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I've never made a New Year's resolution before, but have decided that I would like to get back into enjoying reading. My goal actually falls under a popular resolution to improve education, which I've always loved knowledge so it makes sense for me to continue pursuing bits of information from wherever I can.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I can't remember what the exact quote was, but it actually came up in relation to volleyball, big surprise coming from me, but I was complaining a little bit about completing a ton of paper work for my level one coaching. I was finding it extremely tedious and upon discussing it with Eugene Brown, he said something along the lines of 鈥淎lways be a student of the game,鈥� and 鈥淭he best things we can learn is what you can take in after you think you know it all.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So, obviously I stopped complaining about the paperwork and began actively looking for ways it was helping me learn, even the smallest detail you can pick out of something can be immensely important.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Thus, I've resolved to read more in the New Year. I actually have books I bought seven years ago that I still haven't read, but they sit there waiting as I slowly accumulate more and more. In fact I think I have about 10 right now sitting around my house that haven't even been cracked open.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So, deciding that I should get into reading more, someone had lent me a book, 鈥淭he Art of War.鈥� I had always wanted to read it, having focused on history from China and Russia at school, but finally got a chance to.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It was extremely interesting and as I read it, I found myself actually applying it to coaching volleyball. A classical work, it applied to life, and after reading it I decided that reading in general and getting through the list of classical works I've always wanted to read should be a goal that I don't wait on meeting.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Recently I've begun the Divine Comedy by Dante. In school I remember talking a little bit about聽 Dante's Inferno, which is just a portion of his work which actually includes the rest of the reader's journey guided by Virgil through Purgatory and Heaven as well.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Though I've only read a portion of it, I've also found it to bring good lessons and reminders about life. About being a good person not consumed by material goods or being prideful.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Now, after finishing those 10 books laying around my house, I'll be looking to enjoy 鈥淒on Quixote,鈥� 鈥淔rankenstein,鈥� 鈥淭he Count of Monte Cristo,鈥� 鈥淒avid Copperfield,鈥� 鈥淢oby Dick,鈥� 鈥淭he Scarlet Letter,鈥� 鈥淭he Brothers Karamazov,鈥� 鈥淭he Picture of Dorian Gray,鈥� and so many more, which have become my New Year's resolution.
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