This year I won't any specific New Years Resolutions, just a few plans the make 2017 better than 2016.
To start off: no more complaining. Okay, this does not mean not complaining at all because we all have those days that we need to blow off some steam, but I mean less feeling bad for ourselves all the time. After the election, after a team loss with bad referees, or after a bad test grade that we may or may not have deserved what did we do this year? We complained. In 2017 when any of those things happen lets make a change. If you don't like the grade you got a a test, study more and actually attend class. If you are angry about a team loss, laugh it off and get ready for the next game.
Secondly, let 2017 be the year of appreciation. This sort of goes along with the not complaining thing. It is really easy to want things, and really easy to feel like you have nothing. Even when it comes to non-material things its easy to forget how good things are. In 2017 we can stop with the obsessive Instagrams of our new stuff and the never ending software updates (seriously Apple cut it my phone can't handle anymore). Let's appreciate our ugly shirts that we could afford to buy, lets appreciate the old tennis shoes that have gotten us through many days of working out, and lets thank the friends who make us crazy but also make us laugh. Kurt Vonnegut once said, "I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point 'If this isn't nice I don't know what is" Let this be the motto of 2017.
Making 2017 better doesn't all have to be about self-less life changes. Lets also make it better by canceling all shows on Disney Channel and just start over on that thing. Bring back the oldies but goodies like Lizzie McGuire so that kids don't have to suffer through five more seconds of whatever is on that channel right now.
To make 2017 better lets make to required that once a day everyone has to stop and watch an uplifting YouTube video of their choice. Whether its someone singing and making their dream come true on a TV show or a soldier coming home early they will be shown once a day.
Finally, and maybe most importantly let 2017 be the year that everyone starts watching good movies. I don't know if I can handle another Dirty Grandpa or Alvin and the Chipmunks 72. Lets all make a pact that in 2017, in order to be better people, we will watch better movies.
So throw away old resolutions that will be forgotten and given up on a week into 2017 and make a pact to make it a better year for everyone not just for you.
