Out with the old, in with the ...old?
Out with the old, in with the ...old?
Editorial: As featured in volume 111, issue 7 of The Collegian.
Happy New Year, Threshers! For me, the arrival of 2023 brings equal amounts of joy, uncertainty, anxiety, relief and anticipation. I am looking forward to wrapping up capstone projects, embarking on Concert Choir tour, spending more time with friends and family and — hopefully — graduating from Bethel College this May.
At the onset of each new year I always seem to be engulfed in conversations of resolutions and/or intentions for the next twelve months. During this time of year I reflect on the apparent increase in gym patrons, diet plans, and purchases of journals and planners. Over the years I, too, have fallen into the trap of believing I need to turn a 180 when the calendar hits January first. I’ve counted calories, set intentions to journal more, sipped more water and the like. However, in my experience, these new practices tend to fizzle out after a couple of months, sometimes days. You know what they say: old habits die hard. While this may appear a personal problem, I have an inkling that, for many, new year's resolutions have become futile.
Don’t get me wrong — I am all for a fresh start. Even if I perceive that my efforts to achieve greater health or happiness in the new year may fail, I like the idea of a blank slate and increasing motivation to do and be better. I’ve crafted vision boards and deep cleaned work spaces, updated planners and revisited devotionals that I’ve become less devoted to. However, I think there’s something to be said for continuing to build on last year’s progress. It is true that we can choose to adopt new, healthier habits whenever we wish. Perhaps we should set aside the idea of new year’s resolutions and instead focus on healthy growth, pinpointing practices and accomplishments we want to repeat from previous years.
I believe this outlook could greatly enrich our campus this year. For instance, I hope Thresher football earns a fourth consecutive KCAC title next semester. I hope enrollment numbers continue to increase. I hope honor roll and dean’s list students continue to achieve academic excellence (and that others would continue to strive to that end). I hope men’s basketball returns to the NAIA championships and Thresher tennis continues to climb in the KCAC standings. I hope The Collegian continues to increase digital and print readership as well as organization membership. We have so much to be proud of, both as a campus and as a broader Bethel community. Let’s continue to ride the trajectory of academic and athletic excellence that we continue to establish.
Like I’ve said previously, there’s nothing wrong with cutting carbs, journaling more, working to be kinder and increasing spiritual, health or academic discipline in 2023. Yet I would posit that perhaps it’s not a reset button that we push each January, but a reconnect button. We can keep our new year’s intentions without the theatrics of announcing them publicly, in order to curb the potential shame and disappointment that might accompany not reaching our initial set goals. I would encourage all of us to roll on into 2023, building on what we’ve started. Let’s celebrate small victories and share our struggles, building conversation, connection, and community. It is bound to be a great year.